NEWPORT County AFC and Crewe Alexandra shared the spoils after an end-to-end game at Gresty Road. Frank Nouble's opener was cancelled out by Chris Dagnall a minute after Crewe's Perry Ng was sent off. Here's what we learned...
1. Flynn frustrated
The manager felt his side deserved all three points at Stevenage last week and it was the same story at Gresty Road.
County were a goal to the good and in charge when Crewe were reduced to 10 men and they really should have made the most of that position.
Instead they were pegged back almost immediately and, despite creating plenty of chances, this was a game they could have lost as the hosts made light of their numerical disadvantage to regularly threaten the County defence, who were exposed as the team pushed forward in search for a winner.
2. Striking partnerships still a work in progress
Frank Nouble made it two goals from two starts in League Two but Shawn McCoulsky couldn’t repeat his heroics from Stevenage or Southend in his first league start.
Flynn started with Nouble and Lamar Reynolds up front at Stevenage, McCoulsky and Reynolds at Southend and Nouble and McCoulsky at Crewe and all three partnerships need work.
County prospered when all three were on the pitch together in the closing stages at Stevenage so could a switch to 4-3-3, a formation the Exiles used for much of pre-season, be the answer at Coventry City next week?
3. White looks the real deal
After a hugely encouraging debut in the Carabao Cup win at Southend United in midweek, this was an impressive first Football League outing for 19-year-old centre-back Ben White (above).
With experienced heads Mark O’Brien and Mickey Demetriou playing either side of him, the Brighton & Hove Albion youngster did not look at all out of place at the back and coped well with the wily Chris Porter and Chris Dagnall.
White cleared off the line from Porter and he could have been the hero at the other end as well as he sent a header just wide and saw a close range volley superbly saved in a frantic first half.
4. Super support
It’s been a gruelling start to the season with three lengthy away trips but the travelling fans were again out in force at Crewe.
A total of 354 made the journey, meaning the aggregate away support is up to nearly a thousand in eight days after 464 headed to Stevenage and 130 to Southend on a Tuesday night.
There are two more away days on the road – at Coventry City and Leeds United – before they finally get to see their team at home on August 26 but the Exiles fans are once again proving their loyalty and their belief in Michael Flynn’s new-look team.
5. Travelling takes its toll
The fans may well be feeling the effects of all those miles on the motorways and it looked as if the team were suffering on Saturday.
The effort was there but there wasn’t quite the same spring in the players’ step that was evident in the opening two games of the season.
It should have been harder for the 10 men of Crewe, of course, but they have kicked-off their campaign with three home ties and County will be glad there is no midweek fixture as they look to recharge the batteries and prepare to be sent to Coventry next Saturday.
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