By Chris
With the distraction of the midweek EFL Trophy game out of the way, Notts County can get back to the fixtures that matter.
Up this Saturday is a League Two home game against Newport County, a team that survived in the Football League by the skin of their teeth the last two seasons but currently sit sixth in the standings.
The Magpies remain in a very healthy second place in the table but there can be no denying that performances and results have slightly slipped recently, so Kevin Nolan will be eager to get the ball rolling once again.
In this week's Scouting Report, Chris has an in-depth look at the opposition and how Notts should approach the game.
History
Notts County and Newport County have met a total of 48 times over the years, the first fixture coming in 1930, which the Magpies won 3-2.
The head-to-head record is skewed in the Magpies’ favour, with 25 wins, 9 draws and 14 defeats.
The last meeting was in May 2017, the last game of last season, and Newport won 2-1 at Rodney Parade to avoid the drop to the National League.
Run-down of their last six features
Tuesday 26th September – Crawley Town 1 Newport County 2
Saturday 30th September – Luton Town 3 Newport County 1
Saturday 7th October – Newport County 2 Yeovil Town 0
Saturday 14th October – Forest Green Rovers 0 Newport County 4
Tuesday 17th October – Newport County 1 Colchester United 2
Saturday 21st October – Newport County 1 Mansfield Town 1
The Players – Fact Sheet
Highest goalscorers: Shawn McCoulsky 7, Padraig Amond 6, Frank Nouble 5 and Joss Labadie 3.
Persistent foulers: Joss Labadie 4 yellow cards, Matthew Dolan 4 yellow cards, Ben White 4 yellow cards and Mark O’Brien 3 yellow cards.
The Key Players
Despite the obvious flaws about Joss Labadie, i.e. his temper, he is a good technical player on the ball, who can move into good positions or dictate the play with his passing ability. He’s also dangerous if given time to shoot and can really be an influential player on his day.
Also former Magpie player David Pipe is a forward thinking player that likes to use his distribution as a way to unlock opportunities for his side – in our last game of the 2016-17 season he was paramount in the Exiles bid to overcome defeat and also to remain a League Two team.
Attacking duo Frank Nouble and Shawn McCoulsky offer a lot of dynamic play up top, with the latter being someone who can instantly impact a game for the better once coming off the bench as a substitute.
Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Newport County are a much more organised outlet this term, they focus on attacking and controlling games this way – which can see a mixed performance in terms of the result.
They tend to keep players back, which doesn’t always mean they get a feel for their own attacking play.
However, they can break with pace and have good deliveries from set pieces – including a very respectful long throw specialist which can cause their opposition some headaches when used effectively.
On the ground they are quite confident and this is where they prefer to keep the ball, as it allows their better players to threaten carefully.
As a result, to being quite deep, their defence tends to invite play and I would pin point a lack of focus at the back.
At times it’s almost kamikaze defending, with little communication and this allows teams which remain focused to come out on top – a lot of the goals conceded by Newport County fall under this scenario.
Yet they don’t give teams a lot of time on the ball, rather they rush to cover or block – and again this results in them often leaving their keeper exposed.
Route-one football is something which Newport can take advantage from, although it can be a weakness from a defensive point of view.
Notts really need to focus on getting wide, whilst making the most of space which comes available as they move as a unit going forward.
If we are clever in possession and patient, openings will arise where players such as Grant or Stead may get a clinical shot a way towards goal.
Set pieces, especially corner kicks are something whereby the Magpies may create a chance.
Distribution of the ball is key, being steady at the back – in terms of being alert and quick to danger will ensure the control remains in an home advantage.
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