Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 1 (Knights 89)

Wrexham 1 (Morrell 23)   

Attendance: 3,206

Knights poaches to rescue County

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

We face another test today against a capable side who can play so will need to mix it up to get anything

CONDITIONS

Cloudy, muggy with intermittent light rain, pitch looks slippery but in a decent condition.  

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Patchy performance lacking control of the game, but showed plenty of character to dig out the late goal

TURNING POINT

Penalty should have been a turning point in our favour but went against us in the end

THE MATCH

County kept the same side for the first time this season and started the game with great purpose adapting well to the difficult conditions dealt by the heavy rain in the build up to the game. County attacked the left channel well in the opening few minutes winning a couple of throws ins in useful positions from Morgan which Wrexham dealt well with. The game was competitive in midfield with County marginally on top with Collins and Rose pulling the strings. Both sides struggled to maintain possession early on with several players losing their footing in greasy conditions. County continued to look threatening down the left channel with Morgan making several good direct runs forward. On 10 minutes, it nearly paid dividends when Collins found Morgan on the left side of the area and he got in front of his man to reach the byline but in his attempt to delay his cross and look for precision, Blackburn did well to recover and make an important block. Wrexham were content to absorb pressure and look for quick balls forward towards Morrell who provided plenty of guile and strength to hold the ball under pressure. County continued to look the most likely and caught Wrexham on the hop on 15 minutes when a direct ball towards Matthews was glanced on perfectly for Reid on the right side of the area and he made the most of a slip by Knight-Percival carrying the ball into the area but his low shot from 12 yards fizzed just past the left post. Wrexham were well organised attacking from deep with some well-constructed moves to test County. On 18 minutes, they soaked up pressure well and moved the ball quickly down the right channel for Gall to latch onto. He showed good feet to drive to the byline and cut back an excellent deep cross which Morrell stole in at the back post but the angle was too difficult and the shot went tamely into the side netting. Wrexham were keen to play from the back with ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair and Chris Blackburn both comfortable on the ball in initiating moves forward. On times Wrexham over did it and when County were able to close down quicker the hosts caused problems for themselves. On 20 minutes, some indecision by Sinclair with a ball across the face of the area saw the keeper Shearer under pressure and Morgan did well to close down the kick out which was deflected dangerously wide of the goal. Wrexham took the lead on 23 minutes with the first real threat of the game after some indecision by County inside their area from a long throw and Morrell made the most of it with a deflected volley from 12 yards low into the left corner. County made efforts to respond but their game became increasingly littered by bad mistakes with short and overplayed passes. Wrexham had another good situation on 27 minutes when they were able to play a direct ball from deep with Blackburn offered too much space to bring the ball forward and his direct pass was not cut out cleanly by County and Morrell stole inside the area but Warren recovered well to get in an important diversion. Wrexham were patient in their approach and held the ball well but County appeared to get in two minds whether to close down or keep their shape. On 32 minutes, another cohesion move by Wrexham on the left channel saw Keates do well to provide a link and cross from the left which coaxed Thompson off his line but he was unable to hold the ball and forced to handle outside the area. From the resultant free kick, Keates drilled in a low effort from 25 yards which Thompson saved and held well at the second attempt. County had opportunities on the break despite their lack of possession but were letting themselves down with their use of the ball on times allowing Wrexham to come back hard at them. On 37 minutes, Wrexham made a decisive break down the left channel with Morrell again providing a good outlet and his first time cross had venom on it but Bignot recovered well to make an important clearance. Wrexham remained in control as half time approached with County winning a couple of corners which came to nothing

County must have been given a talk to at half time as they came out all guns blazing with some better approach play in the final third. On 48 minutes, County had a great chance to level after an excellent intricate move down the right channel saw Reid combine well with Henry and his pace saw him steal into the area only to be felled by Ashton as he was about to pull the trigger. The referee sent Ashton off being last man which appeared to be harsh in the circumstances. Reid stepped up to take already his fifth penalty this season but appeared to slip as he struck the ball and it crashed against the bar before finding safety. County upped the tempo noticeably at this point forcing Wrexham into several late challenges with Rose being singled out specifically. County started to use their right channel better with Bignot making several supporting runs and left back Knight-Percival received an overdue card moments later for a mistimed challenge on Bignot. Wrexham were forced into their shell with the handicap of ten men and County pushed on further with Morgan doing well to stretch the left channel forcing several corners. County were close again on 56 minutes when a Rose corner from the left side went deep but read well by Todd who headed just past the right post from 8 yards. County made a change on 65 minutes with Foley replacing Morgan as County pushed an extra man forward. Wrexham played increasingly direct as the game wore on with Morrell and Gall working hard off the ball to deny County space from the back. County were awarded several free kicks largely from the right channel which Rose took by Wrexham made some important headers when under pressure. County had a great chance on 72 minutes when a neat patient across the face of the area saw Matthews find Odhiambo who jinked past a challenge before striking a low effort from 14 yards which the keeper parried around the right post. Wrexham made a change on 75 minutes with the hardworking Morrell replaced by ex-Forest Green striker Andy Mangan. County were agonisingly close on 78 minutes after a quick move that saw them switch play well from right to left with Henry finding Foley on the left side of the area. He adjusted superbly to hit a first time volley from 16 yards which the keeper did well to tip over. County then made double substitution moments later with Taggart and Knights replacing Henry and Matthews. County added to their free kick count on 80 minutes from another dangerous position on the right flank with Rose whipping in a great ball which Reid glanced on from 10 yards but the keeper positioned himself well to save. County were keen to support the channels with several overlapping runs and a neat decisive move on 82 saw Odhiambo link well with Bignot and provide a decent cross from the right byline which Foley cushioned into the path of Reid but his shot on the turn from 12 yards was blocked. Count had a good situation on 85 minutes when Wrexham struggled to clear effectively on the left byline and Knights attempted to loft a cross back post towards Collins who saw his header from 8 yards flash wide of the right post. On 87 minutes, Taggart shows his prowess from crossing in a tight spot on the left flank and Blackburn made a vital header to divert away ahead of Reid inside the 6 yard box. County got the goal their play merited on 89 minutes when a Reid snapshot inside the area was not held by the keeper and Knights pounced to slot home inside the six yard box. County made a frantic effort to win the game in injury with Odhiambo continuing to show good versatility to support the flanks and his cross from the left channel was close to being turned in by Reid. In the final minutes, Reid went close to a winner with a shot on the turn inside the area which went over the bar from 10 yards. Smith found himself in the book just before the whistle for unsporting behaviour but Rose hit a tired looking free kick over the bar from 30 yards. County were given a warm applause at the end for maintaining their proud home unbeaten record stretching back to March 2009.

Thompson (7) – forced of his line and made some good decisions showing good handling. Kicked well in general despite being put under pressure

Bignot (7) – was forced back on times and concentrated on defending and marking. Made more offensive runs in the second half  

Collins (7) – started well seeing the ball early and orchestrated some good early moves but lost his way a little after misplacing several passes       

Warren (8) – kept discipline well winning the aerial duals, made some important tackles recovering back and marshalled threat well    

Todd (7) – switched off a couple of times and more composure needed on some clearances. Got forward well on set pieces and went close a couple of times     

Odhiambo (7) – was good closing down but let down by distribution on times. did better when he was asked to come into midfield and made things happen.   

Henry (8) – was difficult to track with his pace and trickery. Work hard up and down the pitch and always had eye for a space  

Rose (7) – had some bright spells but was often given little space and time in congested midfield. Provided usual quota of excellent set pieces             

Morgan (7) – started brightly with several bright runs but perhaps got in two minds a bit today when he should have gone for quick cross or shot        

Reid (7) – chased ball down well and showed more strength on the ball. had the best chances and could have had a hat trick today if things had gone for him.   

Matthews (6) – did not have his own way in the air and looked laboured being forced to play with back to goal a lot today. Restricted on cleacut chances      

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – disciplined and neat in their play, they were composed and streetwise with the ball and worked hard to contain play

Weaknesses – they overplayed on times and better sides would have punished their casual play at the back. Conceded several free kicks today  

Opportunities – after the burden of going down to ten men they re-organised well and always had a good outlet with Morrell   

Threats – Morrell looked capable given the chance and Harris manufactured several good moves.  

OFFICIALS

Mr S Martin (8) – controlled game well keeping it clean and didn’t go overboard with booking allowing for difficult conditions.  

MAN OF THE MATCH

Chris Blackburn – strong in the air, read play well and got some crucial interventions in 

IF YOU WERE DEAN HOLDSWORTH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We started well and with better use of the ball in the final third we would have been ahead before Wrexham scored. We were slow to react to a set piece again inside our area and despite the ball being deflected the move was badly defended. After that point, we looked a bit in awe of them and we failed to close them down across the pitch allowing them to play which to their credit they were very good at. In the conditions today you couldn’t really afford to sit off and we learnt that quickly after half time. Despite missing the penalty, we kept going and got our reward for persistence. Wrexham were quick to close to the flanks throughout and we struggled to get the ball down the middle effectively, however, when we able to release our full backs better in the second half our momentum grew.