Here’s my honesty shout; for a few minutes at the start of the second half we looked crap. The fast-flowing passing was replaced by a nervousness, not brought on by a hostile crowd either. Maybe Newport decided we wouldn’t like the game brought to us, but that is exactly what they did. We misplaced passes, hacked at clearances and generally looked a different outfit to the first half.
It wasn’t the case all the time, we played some nice balls across the back four, looking to slow the game down and keep control, but Newport have the players to push and probe. Jamile Matt is another I like and he was causing us no end of problems. They were very good in the air, but the balls kept coming from long to our defenders and on too many occasions, we didn’t win the header.
Credit where it is due, when our fans tried to lift the noise level and give our lads a boost, the small contingent in the corner from South Wales did exactly the same. They proved you don’t have to come in big numbers to create an atmosphere and I’m always one who will acknowledge good supporters. Fair play to them, they drove their team on.
It was a pulsating fixture, Newport always looked like scoring but when we did try our luck in the final third, we did to. Shay McCartan wanted to ‘do a Shackell’ by scoring from a free kick, but drew a good save instead, whereas at the other end a lobbed ball from Fraser Franks was nodded just wide by Semenyo. There was plenty for a neutral to be impressed with, but I’m not neutral and with 25 minutes left to play I feared a draw. MK Dons were losing, which made it worse in a way because a win would give us that four point cushion we did well to throw away in November.
From out of nowhere, the game was won. Newport had been on the attack, we hadn’t had a spell of pressure but a big ball into Akinde was nodded on to Tom Pett who scored the pick of the goals with a lovely left-footed finish. It literally came rom nowhere but from being on the rope we seized the initiative. It was just reward for our earlier efforts, but a little harsh on Newport. Still, you have to defend well against the bigger teams in the division and they switched off.
Talking of switching off, it was 3-2 on 77 minutes. Bloody Amond as I’m sure he should be called was the scorer again, but the architect was Grant Smith. My Dad isn’t convinced about Smith and I’ll be honest, these last two home games he’s looked nervy. He pulled off two good saves in the first period, but his sloppy pass into Matt lead to Amond banging in their third. In truth, there was still opportunity to stop it after the bad pass, but we’ve gone from being comfortable at 3-1 to struggling to hold on at 3-2.
The ten minutes before the goal we were back in the ascendency but those final fifteen minutes or so were nervy. Newport poured forward, we lost Michael O’Connor through injury and ended up with Bruno Andrade on through the middle with Rheady and Scott Wharton in the centre of the park. Wharton created a good chance to make it 4-2, surging forward on the break only to be wiped out by their player. When he didn’t get the free kick he got up and wiped their lad out in retribution, only to be penalised. Danny didn’t like that and told the fourth official so, but Thomas Bramall didn’t like that and sent Danny off. Well, what’s a Christmas fixture without a little touch-line drama?
We hung on and after seven minutes of the five minutes added time, the ref blew his whistle and the game was over. Sweet Caroline, not the most popular of songs, rang out loud and proud as we departed the Bank from a very testing match against a solid and exciting Newport side. Micky Flynn felt his side were the better of the two, but you get noting for thinking you’re better but coring fewer goals, harsh realities of life.
There were some big performances from Imps’ players too. Lee Frecklington did a lot of running and led by example from start to finish, something that might not be noted in the popular press. Tom Pett was outstanding and got the sponsors Man of the Match, a better shout than John Akinde who got Thommo’s Man of the Match. Akinde had a good game, when you et a goal and an assist you have to take some of the plaudits. I thought Bozzie was the best player on the field, always dependable and never one to shirk a challenge, header or a bone crunching tackle.
It wasn’t convincing for 90 minutes, but it was for thirty-five or forty. We didn’t look unbroachable for the whole game, but both their goals should have been dealt with better. We didn’t create a lot of clear-cut chances, but we scored three goals from open play. Looks can be deceiving, and in the end I think we were good value for the win.
I’m this league, there’s little separating the very best and the very worst. Every side can, on their day, beat any other team in the division. Look at MK Dons, they were the benchmark, or so I was told, a few weeks ago. Now they’ve lost four of their last seven in all competitions and look to be rocking a little. For the record, we’ve lost five in all competitions all season, one of which was against a Championship side, away, with a handful of reserves playing.
I know the mantra, never too high when we win, never too low when we lose. That’s great, but I wanted to end on something which is a little bit of a retort to some fans chatting what I can only describe as garbage after we drew at Oldham. Back then the train of thought was we were 16th in the six-game form table and I was asked was that reflective of where we were as a side. I declined to answer because it wasn’t up to me to do so, it was up to Lincoln City.
We’re second in the current six game form table, level with Mansfield at the top on 14 points from a possible 18. we’re the only team to have won three in a row and we’re currently on a ten game unbeaten run in all competitions, excluding penalties.
Since that game.of the players who came under fire Harry Anderson has scored two in four, John Akinde has four in four. Words are not always the best way to answer critics, results and goals are.
Merry Christmas
Nice blog.
Goes to show how different fans see a game- thought Bossie looked hesitant against Newport yesterday and not as assured as previously.
When Pett plays left wing he is almost an inside left whereas Andrade is full on outside left. Both have much to offer but Pett adds more game play and understanding (and drifts more into the left midfield role) though less entertainment and opportunity than Andrade (to compare how much Pett has improved- compare Newport yesterday with Crawley away last season when he played a similar role. Almost a different player).
Talking of which, Akinde was immense yesterday. Scored a goal, sets up the winner, had two defenders continually on him. MoTM for me. One of his best games in the red and white. Getting better and better each week.
I still think Rheady has more football in his bones than Akinde ever will have, but time will tell….
Some interesting responses to the Blogg. Newport are well in the race but are let down by a leaky defence. A minus goal difference holding the position they do would be a concern for them. We have a block of fixtures across Christmas that are quite kind. I thought after grinding out the win at Stevenage that we had a decent chance of picking up 8 points from the next 4 games. I would happily have accepted a draw against Newport believing we could win one of two away fixtures in Christmas week. Having won against Newport Im not upping my points expectancy for the period, what it does give us is a small cushion to accommodate a possible loss in the next 3 games.
I really hope Garys dad gets to sing his songs. Meanwhile to Gary and the Blogg readers have a good but more importantly safe Christmas.