Newport County enjoy fantastic February despite Sutton defeat

The Exiles’ five-game unbeaten streak was ended by the promotion hopefuls, who showed a cutting edge that the hosts lacked.

The U’s opened the scoring from a corner that County felt should have been a goal kick; the defending was poor to allow Alistair Smith to cross for Coby Rowe to score from close range.

Smith got a goal to go with his assist after 65 minutes, finding the bottom left corner with a perfect shot from just outside the area.

Here are the talking points from Rodney Parade…

Offrande Zanzala missed a glorious chance for Newport County (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

CUTTING EDGE

County were far from their best and their exertions from recent weeks - with a Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday run featuring trips to Barrow and Hartlepool - clearly caught up with them.

However, they had their chances and really should have been on level terms at the break after responding well to going behind.

Offrande Zanzala never looked convincing in his one-on-one after a wonderful Matt Baker ball over the top then Sutton goalkeeper Jack Rose pulled off a sensational stop to deny Charlie McNeill.

Priestley Farquharson’s improvised attempt from the resulting corner was more a freakish effort than a chance but it summed up County’s day that it hit the post and then nobody was able to force in the rebound.

There were chances in the second half – notably Zanzala again being a little slow to get his shot off after a Harry Charsley through ball – but the Smith strike killed the game.

County are creating a lot more in open play but they need more of a cutting edge; missed opportunities have piled up despite being on a terrific run of form.

Newport County manager Graham Coughlan with assistant Joe Dunne (left) (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

LIMITED OPTIONS

County boss Graham Coughlan held his hands up afterwards and said that he hadn’t made enough changes after recent exertions.

That was shrewd management, he took the blame himself rather than pointing the finger at his players for their failings in a flat performance.

The truth is that Coughlan and assistant Joe Dunne really didn’t have many options.

Left-back Adam Lewis is out for the season and central defender Declan Drysdale could feature at the end of the run-in.

Aaron Wildig and James Waite have been out with knocks, leaving few real choices for the management to make.

They freshened up the front line with Offrande Zanzala and Charlie McNeill but the only other possibles were Nathan Moriah-Welsh, who came on for Scot Bennett at half-time, and Will Evans, who could have been used instead of Harry Charsley as the most attacking midfielder.

County might not have buzzed around the field but still created plenty of opportunities in between the goals, with the second completely taking the sting out of the game.

BLOW: Newport County left-back Adam Lewis is injured (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

UNBALANCED

As he showed in the run to Wembley in 2021, Aaron Lewis is a fine left wing-back and he continued his impressive form with a solid showing.

However, the loss of Adam Lewis for the rest of the campaign is a blow to County and it badly affects their balance.

Aaron is comfortable with both feet but an out-and-out leftie adds a different dimension, as was shown when it was Ryan Haynes down that flank.

What County do for the rest of the campaign will be fascinating and it looks like Aaron, who had looked good in midfield, will be nailed on in the XI.

Other than him, Will Evans is the only other real option in a 3-5-2, perhaps Mickey Demetriou if it’s a flat four.

With Aaron Lewis needed down the left, the cover is also gone for Cameron Norman on the right.

One assumes that Harrison Bright can be called back from Pontypridd if needed while Nathan Moriah-Welsh has filled in there and his Bournemouth appearances in the FA Cup were in that role.

However, adding more left-footers must surely be high on Coughlan’s to-do list for the summer.

Adam Lewis will need to be replaced but perhaps it would be wise to sign a pair of specialists and leave Aaron Lewis to be a midfielder/right-back.

League Two standings (Image: EFL)

FANTASTIC FEBRUARY

It was a disappointing afternoon to finish a terrific month but the news was pretty good from around the grounds.

Of the sides that started the afternoon beneath the Exiles, only Gillingham won. Hartlepool may have scrambled a dramatic draw against Walsall but are running out of games, Crawley have games in hand but are in a right mess and Rochdale look doomed.

County are still looking good for a stress-free April and May, but another manic spell is coming that will test them.

They play five games in 15 days with Salford (away) on Saturday followed by Grimsby (away), Bradford (home), AFC Wimbledon (home) and Tranmere (away).

The fixtures are tough, the schedule is draining but County can get the job done themselves when it comes to Football League safety.