The key areas for Newport County in clash with Carlisle

Exiles supporters are nervously looking down after a poor start to the campaign that has yielded just seven points from nine games.

County have lost their last three league games and, crucially, have failed to produce the goods on home soil.

A five-game losing streak derailed the 2021/22 promotion push and the current crop have failed to halt the slide with defeats to Walsall, Salford, Grimsby and Barrow to go with a solitary success against Tranmere.

The natives are restless and failure to change the record against Carlisle will increase the heat on Rowberry.

Here are some key areas for the clash with the Cumbrians at Rodney Parade…

Grimsby, like everyone apart from Harrogate, hit the front against County (Huw Evans Agency) (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

SCORE FIRST

County's main issue this season has been their inability to get their noses in front, leaving them vulnerable to individual calamities.

They have played 13 games in all competitions this season and scored the first goal just once, in the rout of Harrogate.

The Exiles showed fighting spirit to earn a draw at Sutton on opening day and fight back against Luton, Tranmere, Portsmouth and Exeter.

However, they have been poor chasers in the recent league losses to Grimsby, Stevenage and Barrow.

Striking first would be huge against Carlisle.

COMPOSED: County's Aaron Lewis (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

MIDFIELD HOLE

It was always going to be a challenge replacing influential loanees Ollie Cooper and Finn Azaz, plus Jake Cain to a lesser extent.

County switched from a 4-2-2-2 to a 3-5-2 at the start of the campaign and have noticeably gone with a longer approach after bringing in Omar Bogle and pairing him with Offrande Zanzala and then, because of injury, Thierry Nevers.

However, there is a serious disconnection between back and front and nobody has stamped their authority on the midfield positions.

Aaron Lewis, a midfielder in his youth before switching to full-back, is worth considering even if he is the most solid left-back.

Schooled in the Swansea ways, the 24-year-old has the energy to snap away and press in defence plus the composure and willingness to accept the ball in tight spots.

Aaron Wildig was starting to settle in the wins at Harrogate and Exeter, playing some nicely-weighted balls between the lines, and his loss through a groin injury has been felt.

SO SOLID CREW

Rowberry went with a pragmatic approach at Stevenage – arguably too much so – but County were undone by a goal early in the second half.

They have to go with their most solid options and that means James Clarke and Mickey Demetriou must be involved, whether it’s a defensive three or four.

Declan Drysdale has had a shaky start to life at County and after several misplaced passes against Forest Green Rovers in midweek cannot be risked. The same applies for Priestley Farquharson, who has also been caught out.

County must lean on the solid EFL pros Clarke and Demetriou and if it’s a three then perhaps Cameron Norman down the right to add some pace.

EFFORT: Omar Bogle has a crack at goal against Tranmere (Huw Evans Agency) (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

SHOOT!

County were second in League Two for shots per game last season on 14 (5 on target), a figure that went up after Rowberry’s mid-October arrival.

In Dom Telford they had a player keen to shift the ball and fire off efforts while Courtney Baker-Richardson and Finn Azaz weren’t adverse to having a crack.

This season they are ranked 14th in the division with 11.4 per game while they drop five more places for shots on target (2.8).

Top scorer Omar Bogle leads the way with 3.7 shots per 90 followed by frequent subs Lewis Collins (2.8) and Robbie Willmott (2.8), then Thierry Nevers (2.5).

Bogle is also leader for shots on target per 90 with 1.5 followed by Nevers 1.2 with Matty Dolan third on 0.8 before a big drop to Adam Lewis 0.3.

County have been poor at defending shots from distance with a lack of pressure and they need to turn the tables by pulling the trigger. Carlisle ‘keeper Tom Holy must have a busy afternoon.