Struggling Newport County must fight in League Two run-in

The Exiles lost their fourth game on the spin after Danny Rose profited from a defensive mix-up in the 33rd minute at Blundell Park.

The striker prodded in after striker Offrande Zanzala tried to shield the ball for goalkeeper Nick Townsend rather than put his boot through it.

Grimsby couldn’t add to their tally, with Townsend making some fine stops, but held on for a precious win to stretch their lead over the relegation zone.

County, meanwhile, have lost four on the spin for the first time since September 2022 when James Rowberry’s side were beaten by Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Trophy after losses to Grimsby, Stevenage and Barrow.

The last time the Exiles suffered four League Two losses on the bounce was December 2019 under Michael Flynn.

Here are some talking points after the loss in Cleethorpes…

PRESSURE: Danny Rose makes sure Matt Baker doesn't get time on the ball (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

BEATEN IN BATTLES

There is no denying that Grimsby, fighting for their Football League lives, had greater motivation for this encounter.

That desperation translated into work rate but this fixture cannot be taken in isolation – County have been flat for four games on the spin.

Granted, there are some players that are flagging after a long season and they are stretched by the injury situation but almost every 50/50 was won by a man in black and white.

The Mariners hustled and harried like the Exiles have for most of the campaign while the visitors failed to get in the faces of their hosts. Grimsby won the duels and were faster to the second balls.

That’s what will hurt boss Graham Coughlan the most.

The fourth tier is brutal and this run of fixtures has been tough with games at promotion-chasing Barrow, an in-form Crawley side who are looking good for the play-offs (and thumped Mansfield at Field Mill on Saturday) and two teams battling the drop in Colchester and Grimsby.

Conditions have been testing with the wind in Cumbria and Cleethorpes and a boggy surface in Essex, that after long travel in a season that will finish with 57 fixtures played.

The excuses are there but County have failed to roll their sleeves up and get the job done in the final weeks of a campaign where their attitude and application could not be questioned.

I don’t doubt that they DO care but these displays make it look like they don’t.

FRUSTRATED: County boss Graham Coughlan and assistant Joe Dunne (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

In terms of retention, the manager would have made his mind up long before these last four fixtures but there might be a couple in the 'maybe' pile who are harming their chances.

Those that are under contract for 2024/25 also risk their role being re-assessed - can they be trusted to be key figures?

The squad has credit in the bank but they need to up their game in front of the Amber Army at Rodney Parade against Accrington, Tranmere and Salford.

It’s not even a case of getting the wins, as nice as they would be.

Desire and hunger in a proud performance that must be shown if County aren’t to taint a campaign in which they have battled against the odds and surpassed expectations.

CLANGERS

Grimsby’s goal came from a defensive mistake and County got away with plenty more.

It was a shaky afternoon for the defence with out-of-sorts Matt Baker, Scot Bennett and Kyle Jameson all making individual errors.

That has been a theme of the season with County failing to show the same steel that they did under Coughlan in 2022/23 to move away from trouble at the bottom.

In part, that is down to the inability to field a settled unit at the back and the strongest spell of the campaign came at the start of the year when Ryan Delaney and James Clarke were starting alongside Baker with Bennett shielding.

BATTLE: Grimsby put Will Evans and County under pressure from a long throw (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

STRESSED AT SET PIECES

County were put under the pump at the set piece by the Mariners, who had eight corners and launched long-throw missiles through Doug Tharme.

The Exiles had some scares but, unlike against Colchester and Crawley, dealt with the situations with Offrande Zanzala in a role that was expertly carried out by Courtney Baker-Richardson in 2021/22 to finish with six clearances.

Last season County were League Two’s set-piece kings with Mickey Demetriou and Priestley Farquharson making telling contributions, while they carried a big threat through the arms of Demetriou and Aaron Lewis.

That could be frustrating, with the game slowed down while a defender trotted forward to launch a throw into the box, but it’s part of the game that probably needs work for next season.

County have made big strides to score more in open play (joint seventh in League Two with 42) but they are currently in a deficit of six when it comes to set pieces.

They are ranked joint ninth for goals conceded with 15 while they are joint 20th for goals scored with nine.

The ability to strike from set plays is invaluable when things are going like the last four weeks – a goal from a corner, free-kick or long throw can earn the spoils even when the performance is rancid.