NEWPORT County AFC’s struggles from the spot at Rodney Parade continued in a missed opportunity against Grimsby in League Two.
The Exiles had to settle for a goalless draw against the Mariners, who travelled to Newport hunting a club record sixth three-pointer on the spin.
County had a very strong penalty claim turned down in the opening stages when Kieron Evans went down in the box… but perhaps they would have been denied an opener anyway judging by what happened approaching the hour.
Kyle Hudlin was cleanly tackled by Kieran Green but referee James Oldham pointed to the spot and the striker took it himself, side-footing low to his right.
Just like in the goalless draw with Fleetwood when Bryn Morris saw his effort saved, Jordan Wright guessed correctly and palmed away.
It means that of County’s eight penalties in Newport over the last two campaigns, just two have been scored (Courtney Baker-Richardson against Accrington in August and Will Evans against Notts County).
They have a success rate of just 25 per cent with failures this season by Hudlin and Morris, Omar Bogle versus Barrow and the three shoot-out disappointments against Brentford by Morris, Nathan Wood and Adam Lewis.
County also had their opportunities in open play against Grimsby – Hudlin botching an effort from a cross, Michael Spellman denied by a superb save and then, most notably, Baker-Richardson unable to drag in a finish from close range at the death from a Cameron Antwi cross that was behind him – but fired a blank for the third home league game on the spin.
Here are some talking points from the draw…
A STEP FORWARD
County, who let's not forget were tipped for a relegation battle after a summer of change, totted up another point yet were disappointed it wasn't a maximum haul.
They weren't comprehensively the better side but they did have the edge other than a small period in the 70s when Danny Rose really should have made it a smash-and-grab for the Mariners.
County weren't quite dashing and daring but they did take a step towards the planned new possession-based style.
According to Fotmob, the Exiles had 58 per cent possession (season average 45.9), had 78 per cent pass accuracy and completed 459 passes (season average 244.6). Of their 459 tally, 201 were in their own half and 156 in Grimsby's.
Part of that was down to the pairing of Ciaran Brennan and Matt Baker at the heart of the defence, two players who are comfortable in possession, and the calmness provided by fit-again full-back Shane McLoughlin.
It was also down to a combination sadly that might not be able to be repeated at Notts County on Saturday.
The central midfield trio featured Kai Whitmore closest to Hudlin up front with Morris given more freedom to get high up, something he did well in the first half.
The 28-year-old scored eight times in his first campaign in Newport but has been a bit too deep in the current campaign.
Aaron Wildig gave him the ability to roam with the captain’s communication and pointing valuable in defence and when building attacks.
He started the season superbly when scoring four times but perhaps it is more sustainable to have him working deeper at the expense of his runs into the box.
Alas, Wildig limped off in the second half after coming off worse with a clumsy tackle that saw him yellow-carded.
With Jamie Miley and Noah Mawene sidelined by injury, that could present Cameron Antwi with a starting chance that he really needs to grasp after a slow start to life following a move from Cardiff.
However, that might mean the reins being put back on Morris at Notts County, where I would wager they will spend most of the afternoon without the ball against the division’s pass masters.
INTO THE BOX
County were forced into a change on the stroke of half-time when Bobby Kamwa limped off and that presented Michael Spellman with an opportunity that he grasped.
The left-footed winger was impressive in the second half when, thankfully, he was deployed down the right after initially coming on down the right (where he played at Tranmere).
Spellman was denied by a superb save from Wright, who was rapid off his line and spread himself big, and he put in four dangerous crosses, one of which created a good opportunity that Hudlin botched.
Graeme Sharp, who had profited from Kevin Sheedy’s left peg, got frustrated when Peter Beagrie signed for Everton and showed an infuriating habit of beating a full-back, then then trying to beat him again before whipping a ball in.
At the risk of being an old man yelling at a cloud, there is something more satisfying about seeing a player go on the outside and whip a ball in rather than the modern inverted winger.
Putting left-footed Spellman on the left should encourage Hudlin, Baker-Richardson and the midfielders to get into the box. If he puts in a cracking cross and nobody is there then that failure is on the strikers.
Spellman could provide some certainty down that flank where Kamwa – who averages only 0.5 crosses per game, has scored one goal and provided one assist – has blown hot and cold at the start of his County career.
Fingers crossed his injury isn’t severe, and perhaps it’s time to try him down the right flank where he was so effective against Gillingham?
FITNESS FIRST
There are too many players in the County side who are incapable of playing the full 90 minutes and that is forcing Nelson Jardim to make changes by GPS data rather than tactics.
'Why did he take X off?' - because he was clearly shattered.
Grimsby had a bout of pressure in the final quarter when the Exiles looked extremely leggy but County had already been forced into two injury substitutions.
Whitmore and Hudlin stayed on despite looking tired while McLoughlin had to dig deep for 99 minutes after only making his first start since his September 7 knee injury at Reading in the EFL Trophy in midweek.
The players should be fit enough so it can only be the rigours of the senior professional game that is stretching them.
Kieron Evans put in a promising performance and the Cardiff loanee clearly has talent but he needs to be more durable if he is to become a key figure – he has completed the 90 just four times so far.
Throw into the mix the fact that the likes of Oliver Greaves, Spellman and Cameron Antwi have headed to Newport after previously suffering injury misfortune.
There were always going to be question marks over durability when County opted for a summer recruitment drive with an emphasis on promise rather than League Two knowhow.
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