Nothing to fear for Newport County in play-off race

The striker scored the only goal of the game at Rodney Parade to help the Exiles respond to their midweek disappointment against Notts County.

Evans’ 23rd goal of a remarkable season was a moment of quality in a scrappy game with the striker hooking a volley from a Harry Charsley cross in off the right post after an hour.

County goalkeeper Nick Townsend pulled off a terrific save to deny Tim Dieng with 13 minutes to go and Graham Coughlan’s side dug deep for the spoils.

Here are some talking points from Newport…

STUNNER: Will Evans struck for County with a delightful volley (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

GRINDING IT OUT

This was certainly not vintage County but the reward was exactly the same as for the 1-0 against Wrexham, when they were excellent.

The pattern of the game would have been different had Seb Palmer-Houlden taken his golden opportunity in the 13th minute when he headed wide from a whipped Adam Lewis cross.

That was followed by a half-chance for Gillingham man mountain Oli Hawkins, who side footed straight at Townsend, in a drab first half.

It was better after the break with Bryn Morris testing Gills ‘keeper Jake Turner with a long-range blaster before Evans’ magic moment.

His 19th league goal of the campaign gave County something to hold onto and they did that against the division’s bluntest attack.

The Exiles, with everybody performing steadily but nobody really starring, won ugly and that sent the punters home happy.

BATTLE: Bryn Morris gets stuck in for County against Gillingham (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Gillingham showed for most of the afternoon just why they are League Two’s lowest scorers but the Kent side, whose main threat was right-back Remeao Hutton, did wake up in the closing stages.

In the final quarter of an hour there were 10 Gillingham shots to none by County, who probably made their common mistake of going too deep.

The Exiles defence made four interceptions, 19 clearances and 13 blocks whereas in the previous 75 minutes there had been four interceptions, 11 clearances, eight blocks (according to whoscored.com).

Townsend pulled off a cracking save to deny Dieng after he lost Scot Bennett in the box and in the end it was a team effort with even sub striker Offrande Zanzala coming back to help earn the clean sheet.

SWITCH: Scot Bennett moved back to defence from midfield (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

BIG BOOTS TO FILL

Before Saturday, Bradford at home was the only game that County had been without Ryan Delaney.

The central defender has been a huge hit since being signed to replace Mickey Demetriou and was an influential figure in the seven-game unbeaten streak that has lifted the Exiles into the play-off mix.

The loss of the Irishman to injury for the run-in is a massive blow even if the rejigged defence earned an eighth clean sheet of the campaign.

Coughlan shifted James Clarke to the left of the three and moved Bennett back to the middle with Matt Baker staying on the right.

Kyle Jameson made his first appearance since August when using his big frame to help with the clearances and interceptions.

County need him to get sharp and stay sharp if they are to have the natural balance provided by a left-footer.

He will get some minutes in a friendly behind closed doors at Forest Green on Monday and fellow centre-back Declan Drysdale is also in line for action in his latest comeback from injury.

County need to replace Delaney’s physicality and composure, plus his leadership and ability to bring the ball forward.

Easier said than done but one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.

CLASSY: Aaron Wildig made a welcome return to County's midfield (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

NOTHING TO FEAR

County remain 14th but are right in the mix for the play-offs with seventh-placed Harrogate just two points away.

The challenge is to stay in touch in a testing period that will pit them against some tough opponents, starting at fifth-placed MK Dons on Saturday.

Clubs all the way down to Walsall in 16th are in with a shot of the play-offs and there will be plenty of twists and turns to come.

The key is to still be in the scrap come April and County have shown they have the resilience to bounce back from disappointments.

Their schedule – MK (5th), Harrogate (7), Mansfield (2), Stockport (1), Morecambe (10), Wimbledon (8), Barrow (6) – means it is almost inevitable that they will have setbacks in February and March but the fixtures they have already played in 2024 show that they have nothing to fear.

This Exiles side probably isn’t as good as the squads of 2019 and 2021 that were denied by controversial Wembley penalty decisions, but they are spirited, tenacious and tight-knit.

And, frankly, some of their rivals for the play-offs are pretty ordinary – Gillingham have a pretty hefty budget but have shown nothing to give County an inferiority complex.

League Two is always fiercely competitive but this season feels even more so with a smaller gap between those at the top and bottom.

The leading contenders don’t strike fear into teams and the strugglers aren’t completely shambolic.

Sutton look condemned to a return to the National League yet all 11 of their fixtures since Boxing Day have been one-score games.

There genuinely are no easy games and that makes the run-in fascinating.