The Welsh Marches Line Derby - Newport vs Crewe

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Top of the table Crewe (still doesn't seem right) travel across the border to Wales to face Newport at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

From the outside looking in, it appears Newport are significantly weaker up top compared to last season and are now missing their enforcer in Joss Labadie who always seemed to have a great game against us. But I expect them to still be solid defensively under Michael Flynn and be very direct with their approach.

After our 6-0 win against Morecambe, if George Ray is fit to return I'd keep an unchanged team. If not, I'd actually start Raynes for Ray and keep Ng at RB. I feel Raynes would be very useful in this game as Newport will play to his strengths considerably with their aerial balls.

I think we'll win this one 3-1, we played very well here last season (save for the last ten minutes) and I'd expect us to get the better of Newport again this time around. Hopefully will be enough to keep us top of the table for another week, then I could start getting used to it!

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Locked in a tussle with the Alex for the title, just as everyone expected.

 

[Crewelad87]

I have a feeling this will be alot tougher than a very poor Morecambe. As said above if Ray is fit, we will unsurprisingly be unchanged. We also have real options on the bench nowerdays, Porter, Ainley could be real game changers of the bench.

Newport 2-2 Crewe (Amond, Matt, Bowery, Kirk) 3,240 (244 railwaymen)

 

[JJ1532]

Would take a point, not getting carried away. Hopefully Ray is fit, Ng concerned me at CB last week. Reckon they are planning on Ray not making this game, given they got Raynes and Walker some game practice at the last minute yesterday. 1-1 for me.

 

[County1]

Don’t think we will be as direct as last season. Would expect a reaction after the defeat at Mansfield which has left everyone on a bit of a downer. Thinking maybe 1-1 which would raise spirits and give us a lift with more tricky games against Exeter and Notts to come.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Just got to keep this form going for the final 45 games and we should be good. It’s in our hands.

 

[Crewelad87]

1 change Hunt for the injured Ray, which means Ng comes across to centre back. I think I'd rather keep Ng at full back and bring in Raynes. Also no Porter on the bench due to a knock and young Reilly takes his place. I'd certainly take a point right now.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Well, one fun week of staring at the table is better than nothing.

 

[Crewelad87]

We're still brilliant at taking penalties I see

 

[JJ1532]

Dreadful performance today, shambolic from most of them. Don't think anyone had a good game, including the manager. Spent most of the game hoofing the ball forward for some bizarre reason and Artell did nothing to stop it. Tactics played right into their hands. I do wonder if they let the Morecambe result go to their heads and expected it to be easy today. Massive wake up call. Some tricky games coming up against Fleetwood, MK Dons and 2 long trips to Carlisle and Colchester. Need to be much better, otherwise we'll go into September with only one win.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Terrible yesterday. Abysmal conditions, no attacking outlet on the right (Hunt is a player I'd bring on to see out a game not start a game), two tiny centre halves when Raynes starting would've seen us deal with the long balls a hell of a lot better and we were hoofing it to Alex Nicholls which isn't playing to his strengths. Paul Green's penalty was absolutely abysmal as well and I'd knew he'd miss before he took it. It was obvious he was going the same way as he did at Lincoln away last season. Just stick your laces through it ffs!

Newport were a very limited side on paper but they were very well organised, worked very hard, took their chance and thoroughly deserved the win as we huffed and puff and did sod all. I do think it was an off day though and we'll see vastly improved performances more than performances like these this season.

 

[JJ1532]

Paul Green's penalty was absolutely abysmal as well and I'd knew he'd miss before he took it. It was obvious he was going the same way as he did at Lincoln away last season. Just stick your laces through it ffs!

He went to the opposite side to his Lincoln penalty though? His Lincoln penalty he put to the keepers left, this time he went to the keepers right.

I do agree though, just blast it. It he wasn't confident about hitting it towards a corner, just lift it down the middle, chances are you'll score. Jones to take the next one please.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

He went to the opposite side to his Lincoln penalty though? His Lincoln penalty he put to the keepers left, this time he went to the keepers right.

I do agree though, just blast it. It he wasn't confident about hitting it towards a corner, just lift it down the middle, chances are you'll score. Jones to take the next one please.

I think it's cos he ran to us in the corner I imagined that he put it that way. But he actually blasted the Lincoln penalty so I'm not sure why, on a wet pitch, you'd attempt an absolute pea roller into the bottom corner...

Need to train some penalty takers up. Jones to take the next one but the likes of Pickering, Ng and Wintle should get practising and quickly.

 

[JJ1532]

Yep, I agree. I don't rate Porter, but ironically we could have really done with him yesterday. He'd have been the best choice for the penalty and his ariel ability would have been much more useful than Bowery's. I know Newport were banged up with injuries and illness, so we can't complain, but losing Porter, Miller and Ray after only 2 games hurts us. We had no attacking depth to bring off the bench and Hunt should only ever be a depth player, not a starter.

I'd give Raynes a run out on Tuesday if Ray isn't fit. Put him alongside Nolan and move Ng back to RB.