Jardim: Newport County denied clear goal versus Chesterfield

The Exiles slipped to a third loss on the spin after ultimately paying the price for a nightmare clanger inside the first minute against the Spireites.

A long ball was flicked on by Paddy Madden and there seemed to be no danger but recalled goalkeeper Nick Townsend and centre-back Kyle Jameson failed to communicate and deal with it.

Dilan Markanday slotted the loose ball to put Chesterfield in front after 43 seconds and they held onto that lead for Will Grigg to seal the spoils with a late double.

However, there was controversy at 1-0 when visiting goalkeeper Max Thompson claimed an Anthony Glennon corner and stumbled back to his line.

County co-captain James Clarke was on the scene and adamant that it was over the line with Jardim backing up that view.

“I think it was clear, we will have to assess it better but everyone is telling me it was a goal – the players and the staff as well,” said the head coach.

“I don’t want to comment too much but I felt it was clear and if we had scored then we were on top and had more energy to get a second goal. We didn’t get the goal and paid a big price, and an unfair price.”

County went on to strike the left post through Kyle Hudlin’s overhit cross – with the rebound then hitting Thompson and going clear – and their pressure went unrewarded.

Here’s Jardim’s post-match reaction…

FRUSTRATED: Co-captain James Clarke after County weren't given a goal (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AFTER THE DEFEAT?

NJ: There’s frustration. We started the game badly and in the first half we tried to get back into the game but didn’t find the best ways of doing that.

In the second half, after the change we made of Kai coming on and then more changes, we improved the team and created three or four goal-scoring chances.

We were unlucky and if we had taken one then we could have got the game back, but we lost a little bit of focus when the two goals came in an unfair way at the end.

Speaking afterwards with Paul Cook, he said 3-0 was unfair for all the effort of the boys.

DEFENDING LIKE THAT CAN ONLY LEAD TO ONE THING…

NJ: We are working hard every day to make sure we are consistent and can get the basics right with one versus ones.

In terms of positioning we were there, we just didn’t deal with the basics. It’s disappointing but we have to bounce back on Tuesday.

A 3-0 DEFEAT HURTS…

NJ: It hurst the fans and it hurts the players, everyone is suffering with that.

The fans tried to help the team and we had them with us, we just didn’t score the goal that would have got us back into the game.

LATE: Will Grigg clinched victory for Chesterfield at Rodney Parade (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

AS HEAD COACH YOU WILL TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE CRITICISM, DO THE PLAYERS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY?

NJ: They players always take responsibility, in training they do that and are big men, so they take it.

I will take the blame that I have to and try to help the players to the best that I can.

NEED A RESPONSE…

NJ: We knew that this month would be difficult against tough opposition but these boys have shown character before – when we need to bounce back we always find a way.

THE CLANGER SET THE TONE…

NJ: I agree, it wasn’t a good start and it set the tone. We lost a little bit of confidence and didn’t find the right spaces or the right pass.

At half-time we put things right, made the subs we needed to and we saw the improvement, but that start was unlucky.

SHOWED MORE FIGHT AND INTENSITY IN THE SECOND HALF…

NJ: We are talking about the basics, you have to tackle and win one-v-ones, win your headers.

The boys tried their best but when you commit little mistakes then you pay a big price. That’s what happened.

INJURY NEWS…

NJ: We will have to assess Noah Mawene after he left the game. He come from under-21 level so he hasn’t experienced this intensity.

Kai Whitmore came back well and I just hope he can keep improving his fitness because we can see that he’s a player we need.

Matt Baker came back from international duty and was tired, so we took the option to give him a rest because the minutes were piling on and we have to be clever with how we manage the players.