NEWPORT County AFC had another Saturday night of navel-gazing after a second successive League Two nightmare.
The Exiles headed to Swindon with the intention of reacting strongly to their 4-1 loss to Port Vale but instead produced a performance that was worse.
With the fixture kicking off early at 12.30pm for Sky Sports, it was game over before 1pm after a nightmare start for County.
Kabongo Tshimanga got things going in the fourth minute, Paul Glatzel headed in a second after 18 and Matt Baker put into his own net under pressure in the 21st.
Any slim hopes of making a game of it were ended before half-time cuppas with Wales Under-21s international Joel Cotterill finishing just before the break on the rebound from a terrific Nick Townsend save.
It was a game that had shades of Walsall away last season, when County were the side to enjoy themselves to get the job done early.
The second half was a non-event with these talking points shaped by the shambolic first 45…
OUTFOUGHT AND LETHARGIC
The pledge to avoid kneejerk reactions until October was seriously tested in Swindon, so abject was this performance that it’s only natural to be alarmed.
County were given a drubbing by a side who are unlikely to be among the leading sides in the division once it settles down.
They were second best all over the park and not only were there serious weaknesses in defence but they produced just one moment of note in attack.
That proved to be a turning point with Aaron Wildig, who had been found by a terrific Courtney Baker-Richardson pass, denied by a superb block just seconds before the hosts scored their second.
That was the only chance created by the Exiles and Jack Bycroft didn’t have a single save to make.
He probably avoided the gaze of his goalkeeping coach in the changing room for fear of being given a post-game workout after 90 minutes of inactivity.
County failed to fire going forward – precious little of their 48 per cent possession was in the attacking third – and they were outmuscled all over the pitch.
It doesn’t matter what style is being played, teams must win their one-on-one battles and the Exiles came out second best too often.
There was no snap or tenacity and the sight of Cameron Antwi, a 22-year-old with potential, treading water in pursuit of an attacker in the first half was alarming.
He certainly not the only one and County were lucky that Swindon, like Port Vale seven days earlier, failed to really twist the knife in the second half.
SET PIECES AND CROSSES
County have a rejigged defence but they were vulnerable to balls into the box even before the injuries and suspensions.
The opener came from a set piece that wasn't cleared despite the chance for Noah Mawene to put a boot through it, the second was from a cross that caught Cameron Evans flat-footed, the third from another set piece when Will Wright was bafflingly given a free run, the fourth was a rebound after Nick Townsend made a superb save from a cross.
These departments were also exposed in the defeats to Cheltenham and Port Vale.
Once again, this isn’t down to the desire to play enterprising football, it’s because of failure to do the nuts and bolts.
That being said, County undeniably lack physicality and the player who looks most at home when defending balls into the box is striker Courtney Baker-Richardson.
BIG SQUAD BUT DEPTH ISSUES
Tuesday’s EFL Trophy game against West Ham’s youngsters should be a chance for fringe players to push for League Two starts but there are precious few options for Barrow in key areas.
Owner Huw Jenkins took responsibility for building the squad and he has given Jardim a group that is seriously lacking depth in some positions.
County have gone into a campaign with just one specialist left-back; even if Anthony Glennon was Alphonso Davies that would be a gamble.
The number 3 is currently undroppable, regardless of his displays.
It’s dangerous to look back but the current situation would be a lot more comfortable were stalwart Scot Bennett still in the squad rather than at Cheltenham.
Not only would he currently strengthen the side but he would be another calming voice at the training ground.
Jardim has options in the attacking positions but those individuals are currently being hamstrung by the lack of availability at the back.
County are badly missing James Clarke but it was always a risk to go into the season with the other central defensive players given that the co-captain turns 35 in November and has played 26 and 32 games in the last two seasons.
Kyle Jameson will be back from suspension in Barrow and he needs a strong autumn after up and down displays then a daft dismissal.
Jenkins’ recruitment drive brought in big numbers but there is a lack of experience and quality, and whether the free agent market could address that is highly debatable.
The Exiles are as vulnerable under Jardim as they were when Graham Coughlan was calling the shots; they are a good side when the first team are fit but the lack of depth can be brutally exposed.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The last two games have been alarming and, without wanting to appear a pessimist, the next league task away to Barrow is a daunting one.
The minimum needed at Holker Street is some fight, energy and resilience to give the County support, both in Cumbria and following the game in Wales, some encouragement.
With Crewe and Salford at Rodney Parade on the horizon, the Exiles have the chance to get back on track with the help of the Amber Army.
The Port Vale and Swindon debacles have been very worrying but County have made a reasonable start with nine points from six games.
It’s very early to be looking at things this way but the gap to Morecambe and Accrington is eight and seven points respectively.
They are also above plenty of their likely peers in the bottom mini-league; were they playing catch-up then it really would be cause for concern.
The hope is that this new-look County can maintain that gap while building under Jardim.
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