Newport County hope FA Cup failure against Eastleigh isn't costly

The Exiles blew a golden chance to progress past the third round when they took the lead in the 56th minute of the tie at Rodney Parade against a Spitfires side down to 10 men because of George Langston’s first-half dismissal for an elbow on Harry Charsley.

County hit the front through James Clarke from a well-worked corner but failed to kill the game off and paid the price when the centre-back was adjudged to have dragged down Paul McCallum in the box.

The experienced Chris Maguire slammed in the 82nd minute penalty and Eastleigh held on to earn an unlikely replay.

Here are some talking points from the fixture at Rodney Parade…

LEVEL: Chris Maguire celebrates making it 1-1 for Eastleigh at Newport County (Image: PA)

POSITIVE SPIN

Graham Coughlan lamented the penalty decision after the final whistle and praised much of County’s play. Exiles supporters were less generous after seeing a big opportunity missed.

This could be a costly misstep by County – they should have £105,000 in prize money in the bank and be looking forward to Monday’s draw with the ability to plot the weekend of January 26.

Hopefully the League Two trip to Harrogate on a Friday night will be scratched but they have given Eastleigh a shot at glory when they should have been concentrating on their National League play-off push.

County were wasteful in the first half when it was 11 versus 11 and then lost control when 1-0 up against 10 men.

Credit to Eastleigh, who battled hard to keep it a dangerous one-score game, but this was an alarming performance.

There was plenty of good in the Exiles’ display yet they lack the ability to kill off and control games. You always fear there is a defensive howler in them.

There were times in the closing stages when it was impossible to tell who was the Football League side, let alone the Football League side with a numerical advantage.

Just like against Barnet, County allowed their visitors to build some pressure from set pieces. Fingers crossed history will also repeat in the replay.

The Exiles will still fancy their chances of FA Cup progress but they really should have avoided another fixture between key League Two clashes at Doncaster and home to Wrexham.

WASTEFUL: County and Shane McLoughlin failed to make the most of openings in the final third (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

CREATIVE VOID

The Exiles shifted the ball nicely at times and made chances galore in the wide channels only to be let down by decision-making, the quality of delivery and poor finishing.

Adam Lewis was back on the bench but wasn’t given the opportunity to build his match sharpness after a quad injury last autumn.

County could do with him getting back to add balance and dangerous delivery from the left after sub Matty Bondswell was willing but wasteful.

The Exiles created opportunities and fired in 17 shots but are still lacking guile and somebody with the ability to unlock defences and pick a pass.

The Crewe and Sutton were sluggish, stodgy encounters and, for all his faults, Aaron Wildig has a point of difference when it comes to taking the ball and getting his head up.

The experienced midfielder, who returned against Eastleigh after illness, has largely been a disappointment since arriving from Morecambe but possesses qualities that County cannot ignore at the moment.

This season is also showing the difference that a talented loanee can make – the Exiles have been blessed in recent years with Scott Twine, Ollie Cooper and Finn Azaz with their ability to spark things in the final third.

As galling as it is to develop inexperienced players for others, sometimes that extra bit of class is needed.

CHASE: Seb Palmer-Houlden runs the channel for County against Eastleigh (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

FIRING BLANKS

County should have hit the front in the first half. They had a good shout for handball when Ryan Delaney’s header was blocked by Scott Quigley, Clarke and Scot Bennett went close from corners, Seb Palmer-Houlden was wasteful with headers, Will Evans rushed a glorious early chance.

It continued a worrying pattern of returning to their changing room with 0 after their name; they have fired first-half blanks in six fixtures since Barnet away.

County aren’t necessarily slow starters but they are failing to take their chances in periods that set the tone for the game.

This was also another fixture to highlight the importance of the injured Omar Bogle, so often the target of online grumbles.

County are at least one striker light at the moment and will find it hard to bring in a player with Bogle’s ability to hold up play and bring others into the action.

He would have relished the physical tussles with Eastleigh and acted as a focal point to go along with the willing running of Palmer-Houlden and Evans.

County: Townsend, Payne (Bondswell 65), Baker, Clarke (Rai 86), Delaney (captain), McLoughlin, Bennett, Morris, Charsley (Waite 65), Evans, Palmer-Houlden (Wildig 86).

Substitutes: Maxted, Lewis, Bright, Sanca, Wood.

Yellow: Payne, Baker, Waite.

Scorer: Clarke.

Eastleigh scorer: Maguire (penalty).

Referee: Ed Duckworth.

Attendance: Attendance: 4,966 (1,000 Eastleigh).