Newport's promotion push in peril after loss to Tranmere

Less than a week after a fine win in Walsall gave hope of a revival, the Exiles slipped to eighth in League Two after the 1-0 defeat at Prenton Park.

The only goal of the game came after six minutes when Liam Feeney fired low into the left corner with the fourth-placed Rovers then defending with discipline to take the spoils.

An away defeat  to a side hunting automatic promotion is not necessarily an alarming result but the performance and County's form gives cause for real concern.

Here are the talking points from another disappointment for the Exiles…

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The rub of the green has deserted County; the penalties that helped them set the pace in the first half of the campaign have dried up.

They should have had a spot-kick in the 89th minute when a long ball came off the left hand of Calum MacDonald but instead referee Ben Toner mystifyingly game a free-kick the other way.

County should have been given a shot at a draw but, as manager Michael Flynn admitted afterwards, it wasn’t the officials that should be the primary source of their frustration…

OPENER: Tranmere struck early on against Newport

CHANGES OVERDUE

Peter Clarke had a huge game at the back for Tranmere but the hosts had a lead to hold onto after County conceded a shocker.

“There was no control on the ball by Priestley Farquharson, Ryan Haynes is 40 or 50 yards too high, Matty Dolan is spare, Mickey Demetriou comes over too far and there was a massive gap,” said the manager.

Flynn has grumbled about mistakes for weeks yet the same players keep featuring; perhaps it’s time to give someone else a crack because something needs to change.

County haven’t really got like-for-like replacements for Demetriou and Haynes but a reshuffle has to be a consideration, if only to try and spark a response.

Aaron Lewis must be a contender for a run down the left (or on the right with Liam Shephard switching). David Longe-King was at fault versus Exeter but might be worth a go as a left-sided central defender.

MAYNARD MISSES

County caused a stir on deadline day with their excellent Grand Theft Auto-inspired unveiling of Nicky Maynard.

The striker started impressively with the only goal of the game against Grimsby but since then it has been more a case of ‘Wasted! Mission Failed!’.

The hope was that the 34-year-old would provide a cutting edge to help the Exiles revive their promotion push but instead he has looked off the pace.

Twice in the first half he was presented with opportunities that the Crewe, Bristol City, West Ham and Bury version of Maynard would have taken. He should have been in on goal but instead the defence scrambled.

The striker has started all six games since joining the club so one has to assume that Flynn is trying to play him to sharpness.

The fear is that it might be a case of too little, too late by then with the Exiles in mid-table rather than hunting a play-off place.

Flynn chased Maynard all January and the Mansfield loanee has to start delivering, because poaching is his USP.

DOWNED: Jake Scrimshaw is beaten to the ball by Peter Clarke

LACKING SPARK

The Rodney Parade pitch is a valid reason for County struggling with creativity but the truth is that they haven’t had a spark for months, home or away.

Some good chances have been missed by forwards but an opposition goalkeeper hasn’t been forced into heroics since last year.

County have fired blanks in four of the last six fixtures while they have managed just 18 shots on target.

Tranmere’s Scott Davies didn’t have to extend himself once. The same applied for Stevenage’s Scott Cumming on Saturday.

The Exiles have plenty of forward options but nobody is really threatening while the delivery from set plays has been abysmal.

County need to have error-free games at the moment because they aren’t carrying much of a threat in the final third with poor quality and bad decisions.

If that doesn’t change soon then they will be playing for mid-table placings in April rather than aiming to extend their League Two season beyond 46 games.