Newport County fail to fire in EFL Trophy loss at MK Dons

The League Two strugglers took the spoils, and £20,000, in the last 32 clash in Buckinghamshire 3-1.

Darragh Burns put them ahead from close range in the first half before Matt Dennis and Will Grigg sealed the victory.

Thierry Nevers pressured Jack Tucker into an own goal in the closing stages but the Exiles were well beaten in Milton Keynes.

Here are some talking points from the clash…

‘ON TRIAL’

County’s EFL Trophy campaign is over for 2022/23 and they used 23 players in total, all of them first teamers.

Whereas Michael Flynn used the competition to look at the next generation, both James Rowberry and Graham Coughlan adopted a different approach this season.

No youngsters were given first team debuts and the only novice to get action was Harrison Bright when the teenage defender, who played in the last League Two game of 2021/22 and at Leicester in the Carabao Cup, was brought on for the closing stages in Milton Keynes with the score at 3-0.

Rowberry used the games against Exeter and Forest Green Rovers to give game time for those pushing for League Two action while interim boss Darren Kelly stuck with the seniors to chalk up a win in his brief spell in charge.

Coughlan came in for the knockout stages and also resisted the temptation to field a few kids against the Dons.

He needs to assess his squad and he will have learnt plenty in Milton Keynes, and not all in a positive way.

The manager is forming his plans for the January transfer window and he will need a few outs before attempting to bring some in given the squad size. That can be easier said than done and sporting director Kelly needs to earn his corn.

Naturally there will be question marks over the loanees with Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Adam Lewis the only players to have featured prominently.

Aston Villa’s Hayden Lindley couldn’t feature in Buckinghamshire after captaining the Premier League side’s youngsters against AFC Wimbledon in August but his absence in League Two matchday squads speaks volumes.

West Ham forward Thierry Nevers has only been given cameos while Cardiff striker Chanka Zimba has done little.

Reshaping a squad is tough in January but Coughlan will no doubt tinker ahead of a bigger rebuild at the end of the campaign, hopefully still as a Football League club.

LIVELY: Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

BRIGHT SPARK

County have been organised under Coughlan but they haven’t been dashing.

One man that does provide a spark is Nathan Moriah-Welsh and the Bournemouth prospect is growing thanks to a first proper taste of men’s football.

The 20-year-old is the loanee that is most likely to follow the lead of last season’s star duo Ollie Cooper and Finn Azaz.

He made some extremely positive runs in the first half at Milton Keynes and it would be interesting to see what the versatile midfielder can do in the 10 role.

Moriah-Welsh is certainly providing the energy for a well-drilled but steady side at the moment.

SET PLAYS

County have thrived from long throws and corners under Coughlan but the boot was on the other foot for the Dons’ opener.

It was a shocker to concede in a game when the first goal was always going to be crucial given the hosts’ struggles in League One.

Scot Bennett was outmuscled by Tucker in a duel that led to Burns flicking in but nobody else attacked the ball, something that Courtney Baker-Richardson excelled at last season.

It was a cheap goal, something that the Exiles seemed to have addressed under the new regime.

FRUSTRATED: Omar Bogle (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

MISSED CHANCES

Omar Bogle’s reaction to being substitutes against Gillingham incensed some County fans yet the fact remains that he is County’s premier goal threat by some distance.

Will Evans is a willing runner up front but it is the seasoned campaigner alongside him that you would want a chance to fall to.

Yet Bogle should already be comfortably in double figures this season rather than sitting on nine goals.

The striker missed some big chances that played a part in the demise of Rowberry and blew a golden opening against the Gills, which no doubt contributed to his reaction when replaced.

Bogle is vital to County but once again in Milton Keynes he failed to take his opportunities when denied by goalkeeper Jamie Cumming at 0-0 and then botching a terrific chance early in the second half from close to the penalty spot.

The striker isn’t a shirker and puts himself about against some physical defenders, often without reward from the officials, but he needs to improve his conversion rate.