Poor. Nuff said. Yet another crap start to a season. We need to get on it against York next week or we're going to be playing catch up yet again.
i predicted a defeat today in the poll. the longer it takes for us to get a result, the harder it will be.
Just got back...soaking wet...sitting in the Bisley Stand amongst the vociferous home supporters...survived! Poor performance. JJ a headless chicken, Norburn stuck in second gear, no link from defence through midfield to attack. Newport wanted it and got it. Pipe was hungry and hard.....but not dirty. Not sure about the penalty....looked harsh to me. Zebroski came to us as a CF. Nobody played him there. He played as a CF today. Not rocket science! Brunt made a difference; sadly Clarkson looked off the pace for the cut and thrust of lower division football. Ward sounded really p****d off on radio on way home. Very disappointing performance.................................
Manager's thoughts on defeat at Rodney Parade Rovers boss John Ward was disappointed with his side’s performance at Newport this afternoon and admitted that his charges didn’t deserve to take anything from the game. The home side scored the only goal of the game, from the penalty spot, in the 42nd minute, when Andy Sandell converted the spot kick after Tom Parkes was adjudged to have fouled Christian Jolley. It wasn’t clear, from the stands, whether it was a penalty or not, but Sandell sent Mildenhall the wrong way with an almost perfect penalty and it was no more than Newport deserved as they created a number of first half chances. As for the penalty, the manager said: “I thought it was a good challenge, and that Tom won the ball. "I might be biased, but I think I’m fair and I didn’t think it was penalty.” He wasn’t surprised with the pace and tempo of the game, though. “It was exactly what we expected. It was a local derby and you have to mix and match your play accordingly and we didn’t do that.” Rovers rarely threatened in the first half, and although their play did improve after the break, home goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley was seldom in any bother. “We did get into the Newport half a little bit more in the second half and although we made their keeper work a little bit more, we didn’t really test him.” If there was a positive to be taken from the game then it was the return to competitive action of Ryan Brunt, who replaced John-Joe O’Toole with 18 minutes of the game remaining. “It was good to see Ryan back in the squad. We need him and his strength in the side and he will be an asset for us as the season progresses. “I only told him at lunch time that he was going to be involved. We weren’t sure if we should get him on but decided he could do 20 minutes or so.” When Rovers were awarded a corner deep into stoppage time, goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall raced into the Newport penalty area. He did manage to get a touch on the ball as it came into the box, but that was all. “He said he got his studs on it but it wasn’t enough and to be honest that’s the story of our afternoon.” The manager was disappointed not only for himself, but the 1,000 or so Rovers supporters who made the short trip across the Severn Bridge. “I really wanted a better performance for our supporters, who were sat out in the rain. They wanted to see something a little bit more exciting and a little bit more energetic from our lads, but we didn’t produce a good enough performance for them. “They deserved better than that and we have to make sure we do better for them next Saturday.”
I've still got confidence in JW. Now players are starting to come back I think we shall see a difference.
No wum lads - with the injuries you have you've just got to hang in there It's not going to make an instant difference either because many of them have missed pre-season which makes getting back to full fitness harder (and longer)
Cheers, but not many of those who are injured would be 1st team starters. Say 3/4 would get back in to the starting line up. I think Broghammer would be a starter under Ward. Harrold & Brunt i think would be our strike force. Clucas or Woodards would partner O'Toole in the middle. The other injuries would just give us strength in depth and give us options to change things during the game instead of relying on youths who have no experience. Think it will take to about game 8-10 when you will see better from us.
