EFL Trophy Cheltenham Home.

Live on Sky Sports +. KO 7pm.

Newport County: Carney, Glennon, C.Evans, Jameson, Baker, McLoughlin, Mawene, Miley, K.Evans, Greaves, Jephcott

Substitutes: Townsend, Sanca, Brennan, Kamwa, Rai, Hudlin, Babah

Cheltenham Town: Day, Haynes, Kinsella, Laing, Bradbury, Taylor (C), Miller, Norkett, Colwill, Sohna, Pett

Substitutes: Evans, Bowman, Dulson, Thomas, Bakare, Archer, Wilcox

George Guest wrote:Newport County: Carney, Glennon, C.Evans, Jameson, Baker, McLoughlin, Mawene, Miley, K.Evans, Greaves, Jephcott

Substitutes: Townsend, Sanca, Brennan, Kamwa, Rai, Hudlin, Babah

Cheltenham Town: Day, Haynes, Kinsella, Laing, Bradbury, Taylor (C), Miller, Norkett, Colwill, Sohna, Pett

Substitutes: Evans, Bowman, Dulson, Thomas, Bakare, Archer, Wilcox

I thought County looked good first half, but the sending off just before half time (and possibly taking Greaves off to bring Townsend on) changed the game.

Second half Cheltenham seemed to use the ball to tire County and then look at where the gaps were to create a multitude of chances, which they ultimately scored twice from.

I think there was more positives than negatives. Jameson seemed to boss the back five well. It was interesting that Cam Evans was a RCB, Jameson central and Baker LCB. Perhaps this was to look at Cam Evans as an option for Saturday when Baker won't be available. Second half when Glennon was replaced by Sanca, Cam Evans moved to LB and Sanca played RCB. I think defensively County were quite solid, but I felt by replacing Greaves to bring on Townsend then threw the balance of the side out. The substitution I think should have been Glennon off and the switch to a back four would have been a better choice, because Jephcott (and later Hudlin) were the sole attacking option with Mawene trying to provide support. Greaves was causing them problems first half and with two 'up top' that would have caused Cheltenham some stress and less able to play the ball around. But in fairness Jardim is still learning about the players at his disposal and a 5-3-1 set up post dismissal seems an easy decision to make at the time. I think the goals would have come if it remained a back 5, rather than the back 4 it became by the time of the goals. The problem wasn't the defenders as such, it seemed to me more that County were under constant pressure because there was no 'out ball' and little attacking intent, which meant an overload all across the pitch.

The midfield looked good. Keiron Evans harried, Mawene looked a classy player and Miley (perhaps the quieter of the three) looked solid and strong in the tackle. I've said it before midfield is going to create an entirely different problem this year - whom to pick and whom to miss out. County now have (at least) six players for 3 (or possible 4) places.

'Up top' Greaves looked very good and Jephcott tried hard but was being asked to play a role that I don't think is his natural game. Hudlin looked okay when he came on, obviously his height means he'll win headers, but he seemed to have decent ball control too. He's tall and skinny and perhaps his better days are when he grows into his frame, but he definitely looks like he'll be an option if plan A isn't working and County need a plan B...

I was surprised that Greaves was taken off to get Townsend on. I felt sorry for him. This match was a chance to prove himself but it  was cut short through no fault of his own. Felt sorry for Carney too.

Thanks George for your insight. Where's everyone else?

George Guest wrote:I was surprised that Greaves was taken off to get Townsend on. I felt sorry for him. This match was a chance to prove himself but it  was cut short through no fault of his own. Felt sorry for Carney too.

It was a scenario where he was committed to go for the ball and if he didn't get there first he was likely to catch the opposition player and get sent off. However if he had got there first and the opposition player had collided with him, then that player would have got a yellow at worst.

The red card indeed changed the game. Before that happened I couldn’t foresee anything else other than a County win. Pity we couldn’t maintain our winning momentum, but the lads shouldn’t feel too down about this defeat. Very encouraging.

I had quite a negative outlook going into this season but I’m but I’m beginning to think that this team could surprise us all this year.

I'm hard to please I suppose, for me the jury is still out. In the last two league games Townsend has made a total of 14 saves while the two opposition goal keepers didn't make any at all. It is an extraordinary statistic. Not only does this emphasise the importance of a single player, Townsend, it also shows the scarcity of our attacks.

George Guest wrote:I'm hard to please I suppose, for me the jury is still out. In the last two league games Townsend has made a total of 14 saves while the two opposition goal keepers didn't make any at all. It is an extraordinary statistic. Not only does this emphasise the importance of a single player, Townsend, it also shows the scarcity of our attacks.

The greater plan is to change the way County play and I think it's generally acknowledged that it's not going to be like turning on a tap - it'll take time (and plenty of work in training) to implement. I think Jardim is taking a pragmatic approach. After narrowly losing v Cheltenham in the first League game and getting a spanking from Orient in the League Cup, he has shored up the defence to get points on the board. I think the balance of the team isn't where he wants it to be atm. Five at the back gives you numbers in that part of the field, but means that you are taking a player from further upfield to shore up bad practice in defending, which again will take some time to improve.

I think Jardim is still looking to find the balance in the defence. The problem is that County for several years haven't possessed a vocal goalkeeper and/or someone that takes control of the defensive effort and barks out orders and/or gives out b*ll*ckings for bad defensive actions. Some of the deficiencies cannot be solved on the practice ground, because you need to stress players in 'real-time scenarios' to see their reaction. I think last night was interesting because players were played in more unfamiliar positions (Baker LCB, Cam Evans RCB and later LB, Sanca RCB then RB) and Jameson seemed to be taking an organising role, which generally worked. It seemed to fall down when as a result of the red card the attacking intent was reined back and Cheltenham had a greater proportion of the ball and used it to stretch the remaining County players. Up until the red card I thought the defence looked composed. But County do not have players in the full back/wing back positions that are natural defenders. I'm not sure Academies further up the food chain train players to be full backs any more, because they wish those players to be further up the field. But the basis of building a successful team is making sure you're secure at the base of the team, the defence.

I think once Jardim is happier with the defence then County will swap from the back five to a four and will either play a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3. I'm not really concerned with County's attacking intent. Jephcott may continue to struggle, but CBR is engaging the opposition CB's and the goals are going to come from players like Kamwa, Greaves and the midfield. I think Spellman when back and playing will offer other options and quite liked the look of Hudlin when he got on last night.

My advice George would be to worry a little less and just try and enjoy the ride this season. I remain hopeful of the direction of travel...

Worth saying that the second half of the new 1912 Exiles podcast contains a match diary from the Cheltenham game. Pick the episode up at about the 15 minute mark.