NEWPORT County AFC suffered a first Rodney Parade defeat of the season against Cheltenham in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, yet result apart it could be argued that it was mission accomplished.
Exiles legend Michael Flynn continued his unbeaten record against his hometown club since his 2021 departure after enjoying a 2-1 success at Rodney Parade.
County took the lead through Cardiff loanee Kieron Evans’ smart finish but the game turned on a red card for goalkeeper Jacob Carney on the stroke of half-time for taking out Manni Norkett on the edge of the area.
Cheltenham ramped up the pressure against 10 men and took the spoils thanks to goals by Harrison Sohna and Bluebirds prospect Joel Colwill, the Wales Under-21s international who struck deep into added time for a 3-2 win at Whaddon Road on opening weekend.
Nonetheless, there was enough encouragement from Nelson Jardim’s side as they prepare for Saturday’s bid to make it four League Two wins on the spin against Port Vale.
Here are some talking points from the EFL Trophy opener…
TURNING POINT
The momentum swung towards Cheltenham towards the end of the first half when County made a complete mess of covering a counter-attack.
The ball bounced in the home half and Anthony Glennon opted to go for a header back to his ‘keeper from a good 30 metres only to undercook it.
Norkett got a toe in before Carney, who had gone into the air and caught the attacker to give referee Matthew Russell a simple decision.
The young stopper was a little bit rash but should not have been put in that position – he paid the price for a couple of mistakes on the counter from an Exiles free-kick into the box.
The good news is that Carney will be on the bench for Saturday’s game against Port Vale and will instead serve his one-match suspension for the EFL Trophy game against West Ham’s Under-21s in Newport later this month.
“If the sending-off offence occurs in an EFL Trophy match, the relevant automatic suspension must be served exclusively in the EFL Trophy,” the FA states in its guidance to players for the season.
Nick Townsend will have to face the young Hammers, presumably with academy youngster Fraser Needham on the bench.
LOAN STARS
Cardiff’s Kieron Evans scored, Newcastle’s Jamie Miley had some classy touches but I would pick Preston’s Noah Mawene as the star on this occasion.
It would be daft to go overboard on one outing in the EFL Trophy but the 19-year-old had a hint of 2021/22 talent Finn Azaz about him in terms of stature and how he threatened in the final third.
There were flashes of real promise from a midfielder who is raw, hence he has been sent down to the fourth tier.
Mawene could provide County with driving dribbling, the ability to find space behind the front man and trickery.
Nor is he afraid to put himself about and showed that he isn’t just an attacking threat when tracking back to make one notable block in the right back position for 10-man County early in the second half.
County are trying to develop their own under Huw Jenkins with the aim of selling on to boost the coffers but thankfully there were some late loan additions in the transfer window.
They may make the odd howler due to inexperience, mistakes that the parent club profits from, but they can also produce flashes of fearless inspiration.
In 2021/22 County had two massive loan midfield hits in Azaz (then Aston Villa) and Ollie Cooper (Swansea) while Jake Cain (Liverpool) was also a success.
They were three loan players signed by Flynn who went on to develop under James Rowberry and the Exiles will hope that Nelson Jardim can profit in the same way.
Giant striker Kyle Hudlin, meanwhile, has been wisely signed on loan to solve a weak spot after the loss of Hamzad Kargbo to injury.
BENCH POWER
Jardim and his coaching staff made seven changes to the XI that beat Morecambe 1-0 and none of those that came in had stinkers.
It was an entirely new attacking brigade with Evans, Miley and Mawene joining forces with Oliver Greaves to play off front man Luke Jephcott.
It would be a surprise if it’s not back to Bryn Morris, Cameron Antwi, Aaron Wildig and Bobby Kamwa behind Courtney Baker-Richardson against Vale this weekend but the boss now has impact players sat in the dugout.
Sadly, Jephcott didn’t break his County duck but the striker put in a good shift and was probably denied the chance to get up and running by the red card.
He did well in build-up play and was cunning to allow Shane McLoughlin to get the assist for the goal.
After Hudlin made his debut off the bench, Jardim has some tough calls for the 18-man squad for Saturday and there will be disappointed players sat in the Bisley Stand.
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