Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 0

Southport 3 (Grand 30, Ledsham 40, Gray 44)

Attendance: 1,576

Rude awakening for Edinburgh

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Not expecting overnight miracles but with a new manager in place we should be more competitive   

CONDITIONS

Sunny spells, mild with slight breeze, pitch a little damaged after recent rain     

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Bright energetic start undermined by defensive lapses

TURNING POINT

Their first goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of us

THE MATCH

New County manager Justin Edinburgh made several changes with left back Lee Baker returning to the side but David Pipe was forced to miss with an ankle injury. Wayne Hatswell and Craig McAllister returned to the side in place of Paul Robson and Darryl Knights with the latter on the bench. Hatswell went into central defence with Tom Miller reverting to a central midfield role. Tommy Docherty replaced Ryan Gilligan who had to be content with a place on the bench. County adopted a positive 4-3-3 formation with Buchanan, Jarvis and McAllister up front and they were positive in the early stages. County had a great chance to score inside the first minute when McAllister directed a clever header into the path of Miller who played a good through ball for Jarvis who carried his run into the area but struck a tame shot from 10 yards which the keeper turned easily round the post. It was a let off for Southport and despite County forcing the tempo in the early stages winning a couple of corners on the left flank Southport strongly dealt with them. County have had problems defending their left flank all season and Southport soon came alive with some decisive breaks forward with Whalley pulling the strings. County had a warning as early as 12 minutes when Whalley delivered a good free kick from right side which put County under pressure and despite clearing to the edge of the area, County had nobody to take responsibility and Akrigg hit an opportunist effort just past the left post. County soon lost their early impetus with the struggling to find any cohesion in the final third and Southport did not hold back pushing on. County did create some good exchanges down their right flank with Paul Rodgers keen to get involved but sadly there was little quality from crosses in the final third. Southport were often quickest to second ball and despite riding their luck with a couple of challenges, County becoming increasingly hesitant and nervy allowing their opponents to dictate the game. Miller was booked on 25 minutes for a late challenge near the right flank on Poku who was becoming more influential with his ball winning attributes. Southport had threatened from their right flank several times and long throws by Owens. It paid off on 30 minutes when County weakly cleared for a throw and Owen launched a missile which County keeper Thompson was unable to get a clean punch on and despite Rodgers clearing near the line, Grand was able to head home from inside the six yard box. County made efforts to step up their game with some better penetration inside the final third. They had a valid looking penalty appeal for handball turned down on 33 minutes when Jarvis cut back a decent cross from left byline which appeared to brush the hand of Akrigg. County became increasingly vulnerable to the counter attack and committed suicide on 40 minutes when they were left exposed at the back with Whalley turning Baker with ease to run unopposed down the right side of the area. Southport were quick to get men forward to support the move and his cross pinpointed Ledsham at the back post who headed home strongly into the right corner. Confidence was visibly drained by the second goal with County struggling to put two passes together and their ball retention in the final third was poor allowing Southport to launch further attacks forward. It paid dividends on the stroke of half time with a third goal that effectively killed off the game again from a simple long throw on the right side by Owens. County had nobody to take responsibility and with keeper Thompson flapping at the ball Gray was well positioned to head home inside the six yard area.

County were sent out early for the second half but failed to make any impression in the early stages with Southport absorbing pressure with ease and looking to use their right flank as a release. County were forced into an early change with Baker injured after becoming caught up in a challenge with Mukendi on the left channel. He was replaced by Andrew Hughes on 55 minutes who slotted in at left back. County had offered little threat from their patient build up play but opened with Southport keeping them at arms-length. However, on 56 minutes they had a great chance to get back into the game when they changed tact to play a direct ball towards McAllister which went beyond him and Miller did well to anticipate and carry the ball into the area but saw his shot with the outside of his foot from 10 yards go just past the left post. County were soon making another change on 63 minutes with Foley replacing Miller and soon after Knights replacing Buchanan. County had a better spell for a time with Foley and Knights offering some drive to make something happen with some good exchanges but Southport continued to stifle play well. Southport made a change on 70 minutes with winger Whalley being replaced by Brown who went deep. County made some in-roads near the edge of the area from some disjointed pressure and were awarded a free kick on 77 minutes in a decent position inside the “d” after Docherty had been fouled by Lee who was booked. Rose struck the free kick into the wall and Southport were again able to clear the ball without too much pressure. Gray was then replaced up front for Southport for Walker as they went increasingly defensive in the final ten minutes. County flirted with goal on 83 minutes with probably their best passing move of the game with Foley finding Rose on the edge of the area and his curling effort towards the right corner was well read by the keeper. Foley received a harsh late booking for diving on the left corner of the area after a strong run. County huffed and puffed in the final minutes without making the keeper work and Southport was allowed the luxury of making a late change with Osborne being replaced by Carden.

Thompson (4) – allowed defence to sit far too close to him on times. looked uncomfortable dealing with long throws throughout and kicking was erratic.

Rodgers (6) – covered danger well several times, had a bright start and contributed well going forward but lacked control and ability to make decent cross  

Warren (6) – was put under pressure on times in the air and looks to be lacking mental and physical sharpness on times

Hatswell (5) – look rusty and not match fit and given problems by pace throughout often being caught out of position.       

Baker (4) – got caught with ball in dangerous positions leaving team exposed. Distribution as poor and never really did the basics right 

Docherty (5) – was anonymous for large parts of the game often sulking instead of getting to the ball to break up play. passing was wayward on times  

Rose (7) – was left to do too much and was soon crowded out of the game, delivered some good set pieces but was flow was somewhat limited          

Miller (6) – made some honest challenges and worked hard to get up and down the pitch but often slow to read the play

Buchanan (5) – work rate was poor on times and unable to get into any threatening positions, didn’t make the ball stick enough in the final third.      

Jarvis (5) – honest enough performance but naïve with his use of the ball on times, weak in control and lacked penetration

McAllister (6) – needs to start being a bit more greedy and willing to shoot, made some good lay-offs and headers but often not read by others                 

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – they offered plenty of threat from corners and long throws, worked hard to stifle and were the more organised outfit.

Weaknesses – switched off on several long balls on times which went unpunished, reliance on direct balls when put under pressure          

Opportunities – they probably had less possession but were happy to break up play and utilise their long throw and set piece delivery   

Threats – Whalley provided a good outlet on the right side and an eye for crosses and they had several tall players who could meet the Owens long throw.

OFFICIALS

J Amey (7) – got the key decisions spot on, letting game flow but made some strange bookings   

MAN OF THE MATCH

Godfrey Poku – an ideal player County do with, who gets to ball first, marks tightly and was quick with his use of the ball

IF YOU WERE JUSTIN EDINBURGH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Southport were preparing for life in Conference North only in July until they were reprieved due to Rushden and Diamonds expulsion. In a short time, they have put together a decent side despite only a having modest budget and a part-time regime. Individually their players are no better than County but collectively as a team they were yards better, quicker to the ball with more heart and soul. Justin Edinburgh will now realise the size of the task ahead of him but before we can run we must learn to walk. County at the moment are not even doing the basics right by defending set pieces and being positionally aware of danger. After a decent start, County inexplicably sat back and became increasingly slow to read the game and most importantly to win the second ball. County lacked physical presence to hold the ball today especially in the final third and need to start playing in the opponents box as despite having three up front we made little headway inside the area by making crosses or passing moves to hurt sides