IT was third time lucky for Nelson Jardim as the head coach got his Newport County AFC reign up and running in style.
The Exiles upset the odds by turning over Doncaster 3-1 at Rodney Parade thanks to a stunning second half against a side tipped to be contenders at the top of League Two.
Rovers, who hadn’t lost a regular season league game since March 2, edged the first half 1-0 thanks to Owen Bailey’s powerful finish approaching the half hour.
However, a curled cross/shot by Bobby Kamwa, who went close three times in the first half, levelled things up in the 47th minute.
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A rocket by Kai Whitmore in the 66th minute put County in front and defender Matt Baker promptly slammed in his first professional goal to earn a 3-1 lead they didn’t let slip.
Here are some talking points from a memorable afternoon at Rodney Parade...
KNEE-JERKING
The value of County’s win was highlighted when doing post-match work while ‘Call Rob’ was being broadcast on BBC Radio Wales further along the media bench.
Rob Phillips was seemingly hosting a therapy session for Cardiff fans after their team had been thumped 5-0 at Burnley.
The Bluebirds, beaten at home by Sunderland on opening day, had just lost to a side who are probably going to go straight back up to the Premier League, yet some supporters were already calling for the head of manager Erol Bulut.
This isn’t a ‘Let’s all laugh at the Bluebirds’ section because there were some County fans on social media already grumbling about Jardim just 180 minutes into his reign (90 of which was with a much-changed side in the League Cup).
The win against Doncaster – and importantly the manner of it – stops all that nonsense, at least temporarily, and settles things down to allow the building to continue.
It’s worth reiterating that there is a new boss in charge with a new-look squad playing a new style.
Most of us would have settled for stopping the 10-game losing streak, of which this squad were responsible for two, with a draw but the success ensures the build-up to Accrington isn’t suddenly ‘must-win’.
It does, however, remain an important fortnight in Newport’s ‘mini-league’ with Stanley followed by Morecambe away.
The trip to Lancashire is after the transfer deadline, when County need a couple more new recruits regardless of how things go against Accrington.
They must keep building and totting up points to avoid a similar situation to Cheltenham in League One and Forest Green in League Two last season, when disastrous starts cost them dearly.
The Exiles really should have been on four points but being on three will certainly do given that it was such an encouraging display against a Donny side who showed enough to suggest they will be up there as contenders.
Just as Rovers won’t go overboard after one defeat in the second week of the season, nor will County get carried away with a win.
One thing is for sure, if Jardim doesn’t turn out to be the right fit for the club then the week one doom-mongers will be quicker with a ‘told you so’ than they will with a ‘I got it wrong’ if the head coach does a sterling job.
What’s the rush to form an opinion?
Don’t publish league tables until September. Don’t make judgements on a team until October.
This was a victory to turn down some of that noise and provided a timely reminder of the dangers of smartphones and social media.
MIXING IT UP
County want to be a possession-based side, so they also need to be a team that fights to get the ball back and scrambles well.
Failure to do that cost them at Cheltenham but it was defensive determination that earned the turnaround against Doncaster.
The first goal started when Whitmore put in a strong sliding tackle and midfield partner Cameron Antwi drove forward then gave the ball to Kamwa in a dangerous spot, then the crucial second started when Kamwa disposed Joe Ironside.
The stats showed that Doncaster had 54.3 per cent of possession (they had 67.9 after County's third goal) and that County snapped away to dispossess them 10 times and force 18 turnovers.
A DIFFERENT SHAPE
Last season County started in a 3-5-2 but then switched to a flat four through necessity because of injuries before eventually going back to Graham Coughlan’s favoured wing-back system.
This year the Exiles, in part down to lack of wide options, changed from the 4-5-1/4-3-3 that they have played throughout pre-season and at Cheltenham and Leyton Orient to the 3-5-2.
They reaped the rewards with a much more solid and balanced performances with the shape getting the best out of wing-backs Shane McLoughlin and Anthony Glennon.
The Irishman made some telling contributions on the charge down the right while Glennon combined nicely with Kamwa but also improved dramatically when blocking crosses.
There can be no grumbles about the decision to name Kai Whitmore as official man of the match but there must be a word of praise for Ciaran Brennan, who gave a hugely encouraging display at left centre-back.
The 24-year-old is clearly a player of quality after coming through at Sheffield Wednesday and playing in League One.
It’s wise to avoid making big judgements so soon into the campaign but combining the young Matt Baker and Brennan with the warhorse James Clarke just looked right.
With Nick Townsend also having a strong afternoon, the defence ensured there were no late nerves despite a succession of late Doncaster set pieces.
Encouragingly, Jardim has already shown that he is pragmatic enough to change formation and adapt.
There’s nothing to say that, with a full week to work on shape, the head coach won’t go back to a flat four against Accrington and be a boss who keeps opponents guessing.
STARTERS FIRE
County should have midfielder Bryn Morris and forwards Michael Spellman and Oliver Greaves back in the mix for Accrington on Saturday.
The Doncaster display will ensure the trio are aiming to be given the chance to make an impact off the bench.
Those that took to the pitch at Rodney Parade made big statements about what the first-choice XI should be, that after a number of players failed to grasp their chances to stake a claim at Leyton Orient.
Morris would still improve the side and provide some welcome experience when under the pump but first he is likely to have to get used to being an impact sub, something new for a man who started 56 of 57 games last season.
I would argue that now is a time for Jardim to settle with a XI, win, lose or draw, to develop combinations but eventually it will need to be a squad game because the EFL novices will inevitably have dips in form.
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