Let's talk about the Newport County game

[selby]

  After a great six point haul from two hard games against teams battling to get away from the threat of relegation we again meet a team from the lower reaches of the division who will fight tooth and nail to get something from the game.
  Earlier this season they  surprisingly at the time gave us a good hiding, really upset our game plan and ran out worthy winners on the day.
  Every game lately seems to be building pressure as we try to break away from teams around us who seem to be matching our every result and have the same ambition as ourselves to be one of the teams ending up in the automatic promotion places.
  Add two players picking sending offs up and suspensions it is a good job we have cover in  big squad numbers.
  Newport have not got the best away record with only three wins but catch us when unusually we have a better away record than at home and the reason we trail Walsall by the number of points we do.
  Getting back to winning ways at home is now a must and extending a winning run of games also important as this is the part of the season the real shake out for promotion places is determined and you need a little luck on your side, avoiding injuries one part of that luck.
  Newport in spite of losing to Cheltenham 3-0  Saturday are above us in the last six league games league gaining 13 points to our 12 in their games so are not to be underestimated and we don't want another slip up at home for our supporters confidence as much as the teams and management.
  A lot resting on what on the face of it is a run of the mill division 2 game to supporters with a passing interest in football but means so much to us who are willing our team to get promotion. The black Bank and our fabulous away support especially deserving of results reflecting their enthusiasm.
  Lots to discuss, lots to look forward to, lots of questions to be answered, and another challenge of confidence to be overcome.
  Changes in the group forced on us, are we really a dirty side? not in my book, in fact we have been a soft touch at times this season, but young sides don't take it for long and hit back. Is Ironside the most man handled player in the EFL?  can we make it three from three league wins? Who is likely to come into the line up? please have your say.
 

[ncRover]

We’ve lost our last 4 league encounters with Newport.

We may be in luck though because they are currently striker-less. Harlem Globetrotter Kyle Hudlin is injured. Courtney Baker-Richardson will be suspended and they have sent two others out on loan.

[mushRTID]

We seem a different animal when we score first at home.
We have to go for another early goal, it’s really time we thumped somebody again.

[Chris Black come back]

They've been on a very good run the last half dozen games before this weekend, when they got turned over 3-0 by Cheltenham Town. The six games before that were four wins and two draws including beating Crewe 3-0 away, drawing 0-0 with Bradford City and a good 1-1 away at Salford City.

[Ian Nimmo]

Also noticed they have a problem up front, therefore would be ideal to play 3 at back.
I would go with
Anderson, Olowu, McGrath
Sterry, Bailey, Crew, Maxwell.
Street, Ironside, Moly.

[Butchers Red]

Baker - Richardson, Kyle Hudlin both out - but that only makes them likely to go even more defensive and sit back and spoil. Can we at last find a way to prize open these clams ??

[rich1471]

Bailey and Kelly are suspended in midfield,will he bring crew back in or play a 352 with street and ironside up front

[drfchound]

Bailey and Kelly are suspended in midfield,will he bring crew back in or play a 352 with street and ironside up front

Why is Bailey suspended?

[IDM]

He’s not..

[rich1471]

Bailey and Kelly are suspended in midfield,will he bring crew back in or play a 352 with street and ironside up front

Why is Bailey suspended?

10 yellow card's

[IDM]

He hasn’t got 10 yellows.  7 in the league.

[rich1471]

Still out for the next two games  suspended trust me

[IDM]

Show me the link and I’ll believe you..

[roversdude]

Only 7 in the league

[DonnyOsmond]

Still out for the next two games  suspended trust me

No one trust Rich.

[Chris Black come back]

Bailey is not suspended.

[LincsRover]

There's a whole other thread on this - Captain suspended - which concludes that he’s only had 7 in the league so not suspended.

[Fal]

Ah yes, another home game where its likely they will shove 10 men behind the ball!!

[Ian Nimmo]

Yes they will, so now is the time to see if Grant can come up with new tactics to counteract this. Up to now generally he has failed, but post match his comments have always been in the same vein, “they made it very difficult for us with all opposition sat behind the ball”

He has to come up with something different, we can’t waste time getting the ball forward as we do normally.
My first priority point to the players would be has soon as we get the ball, you have to quickly make runs which will allow a quick ball to be made to you.
Time and time again at home, I see players making initial runs only for out defenders or keeper hanging onto the ball. We seem to do this more away than at home which is very frustrating.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes they will, so now is the time to see if Grant can come up with new tactics to counteract this. Up to now generally he has failed, but post match his comments have always been in the same vein, “they made it very difficult for us with all opposition sat behind the ball”

He has to come up with something different, we can’t waste time getting the ball forward as we do normally.
My first priority point to the players would be has soon as we get the ball, you have to quickly make runs which will allow a quick ball to be made to you.
Time and time again at home, I see players making initial runs only for out defenders or keeper hanging onto the ball. We seem to do this more away than at home which is very frustrating.

Well, so far we have generally started games very well for the first 15 to 20 minutes, playing on the front foot, creating openings and chances.

From that point, for some reason, we seem to take the foot off the gas, either by hesitating to make those quick passes, dropping off the press and allowing the opposition to get more comfortable, starting to play their own game. As the half progresses, we see passes going astray where we struggle to keep the ball and we see more long passes from the back.

After half time, for those first 15 mins, it's our worst period for conceding goals, just by either not being switched on or easing ourselves back in after the break.

Luckily last week, we managed to get back in front quite quickly, before seemingly settling for what we've got, with gaps between front and back getting wider, inviting the opposition to take advantage of that space. By this time of course, subs will have come on at around 60 mins, and take a little time to get going. The shape changes, but the quick passing from the first 15 to 20 mins of the match seems along time ago.

For the last 15 mins, we soak up the pressure while defensively the back 5 sits deeper, waiting for the inevitable bombs and crosses to come in while we hope we might be able to catch them on the break. The game is in the lap of the gods at this point with little or no control in sight.

So for me, those 15 mins after half time is where we need to be much better, coming out like the first 15 mins of the match. It almost feels like some of our players start winding down about 55 mins because they're half expecting to be subbed off. Scoring in this segment of the game before we concede is critical. I know that sounds obvious, but it's the key to being able to kill teams off and manage the rest of the game much better.

[drfchound]

Does anyone else think we will see a tactical “injury” from Newport after 15/20 minutes if we are doing well.

[Colemans Left Hook]

Does anyone else think we will see a tactical “injury” from Newport after 15/20 minutes if we are doing well.

 I just checked and their goalkeeper isn't Farman

At Lincoln under "The Dark Brothers"  he was well known for his WINDup  "Lazarus Style" recoveries from potential fatal collisions with  "rogue" gusts of wind or heavy water 

He  was an exponent of extending the 90 minutes length of a match by chewing gum proportions as the games  mapped unchartered territories  with his "faux injuries"

[selby]

  Whatever other sides throw at us we have just got to get the job done and find a way to win however we do it.
  It might just be that they think they are about to visit the dirtiest team in the land, or the referee and his team hell bent on clamping down quickly on our underhand game.
  Whatever, we have to find a way to win, and the best way is to put the ball in the onion bag of theirs a number of times, then everyone will be happy.

[Colemans Left Hook]

Since this season we have conquered the Lancashire witch curses of Accrington & Morecambe and at least got our first ever win over Harrogate

may I suggest the Welsh Witches of Newport are our most recent bogey side.  It would be nice if we could score a hatful    and they could leave with their hats between their legs.

They have won the last four meetings mostly easily

22 Apr 2023   Doncaster Rovers v Newport County   L   1-3   League Two
12 Aug 2023   Newport County v Doncaster Rovers   L   4-0   League Two
13 Jan 2024   Doncaster Rovers v Newport County   L   0-1   League Two
17 Aug 2024   Newport County v Doncaster Rovers   L   3-1   League Two

Evans knows how we lost 4-0 to them after knocking Hull out of the cup last season (and taking my ill gotten gains at the same time)

then they do us again this season thanks to us being caught in possession twice in our own half and I lose more money.

Last season I expected them 6th bottom and 5th bottom this season - their hot spell came to an end on Saturday

Maybe it is the trap door for them next season ?

[Alan Southstand]

Not heard anything on whether we’ve challenged the Kelly red card? If we havn’t, that’s him out for Saturday along with Senior!

[McCammon egg n chips]

Does anyone else think we will see a tactical “injury” from Newport after 15/20 minutes if we are doing well.

Proper sick of the tactical water break around 20 mins into each half. It happens every game. I can't understand why the refs allow it.

[graingrover]

Rugby Union is much more dynamic . The authorities constantly follow match behaviours and adjust the rules accordingly . Everything starts at the top of the hierarchy and unfortunately, Football has the very worst.

[moses]

Does anyone else think we will see a tactical “injury” from Newport after 15/20 minutes if we are doing well.

Proper sick of the tactical water break around 20 mins into each half. It happens every game. I can't understand why the refs allow it.

My pet theory is eventually the TV companies will eventually be allowed to show adverts during an injury break so the FA are quite happy for it to be normalised. ££££s rule.

[selby]

We need the three points, nothing else really matters, teams are now to the point where they play great football up to the penalty area and are easy on the eye, the best example Arsenal, who sh*t themselves on the edge of the area and get nose bleed.
  We need to be at it all the game and break this poor run of results playing at home, and get that ball in Newport's onion bag.
 

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We need the three points, nothing else really matters, teams are now to the point where they play great football up to the penalty area and are easy on the eye, the best example Arsenal, who sh*t themselves on the edge of the area and get nose bleed.
  We need to be at it all the game and break this poor run of results playing at home, and get that ball in Newport's onion bag.
 

Absolutely. I think I'm more nervous about this game than any other so far. If we can win the game reasonably convincingly, it will give us some confidence going forward and alleviate some of the home jitters.