Pre-Match Thread Newport County v Southend United - Match Called Off at 1.30pm due to another "Frozen Pitch"

[Shrimpet steve]

I certainly think we need to freshen up the team because we looked absolutely knackered against Orient and they exploited that very well. No idea who is fit and who isn't though (think Sterling, Goodship and Klass are injured/ill).

Oxley

Elvis White Hobson Kyprianou
Demi K Taylor Macca Hart
Olayinka
Akinola

Subs: Seaden, R Taylor, ANG, Egbri, Dieng, Walsh, Acquah, Howard, Halford (there may be others I've forgotten)

That's not the team I would usually put out but I think primarily we need to be ugly and try to unsettle Newport. Last season they were very physical but I think this season, from what I've read, they've become more of a footballing side and with pitches deteriorating that might be the reason why they are going through a bad patch.

Their pitch, which looks absolutely terrible, probably wouldn't suit the likes of ANG, Egbri, Walsh, etc, but who knows, they could be a decent Plan B.

I doubt it would suit any of our players! We have to go with what we are given!!

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Not quite sure what the pitch will be like, are we?

It has been a pudding in the past (although it's hardly Newport's fault if it rains a lot in South Wales) and could well be energy sapping as well as difficult to pass on. And it might cut up a lot.

I don't think there is rain in the forecast so that is one good thing.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Is it doubtful then?

More likely to be frozen than waterlogged.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

Glad to see a few of my fellow Zoners agree with me that Louie Walsh could start. Got a feeling he could do well...

 

[Barry.C]

Id like to see Jason really step up to the plate then on this one, I cant remember his last MOM performance , and having watched him closely have been largely disappointed, using my admittedly amateurish best attempt with my pretend scouting pen, studying every intervention and watching what movement I can on ifollow

 

[Evening Echo]

A STATISTICAL preview of Southend United's ctrip to Newport County tomorrow.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[Chrisb]

Id like to see Jason really step up to the plate then on this one, I cant remember his last MOM performance , and having watched him closely have been largely disappointed, using my admittedly amateurish best attempt with my pretend scouting pen, studying every intervention and watching what movement I can on ifollow

Not MOTM performances but steady, passionate and reliable which is probably what we need right now. Not sure that their pitch will be great for his knee issues though.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

For anyone missing matchday programmes; here's the electronic one for this match:

Matchdayinfo Gamehub | Newport County AFC v Southend United

gamehub.matchdayinfo.com

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Not MOTM performances but steady, passionate and reliable which is probably what we need right now. Not sure that their pitch will be great for his knee issues though.

I’ve always felt Demetriou was underrated. I like him.

 

[Kris]

I doubt it would suit any of our players! We have to go with what we are given!!

Yes but I highlighted Egbri, ANG and Walsh in particular as they are, IMO, the least suited to a boggy surface. Hence leaving them out of my proposed team.

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Newport County

Newport County’s Manager Michael Flynn talks to South Wales Argus ahead of the game against Southend United

Newport County’s Manager Michael Flynn
​

Michael Flynn: No chance of Newport taking Southend lightly

STRUGGLE: Southend United started the season horribly but enjoyed a strong December​

It's top versus bottom in League Two this afternoon but Newport County AFC won’t be complacent against a resurgent Southend United.

The Exiles are setting the pace but are 13th in the form guide courtesy of a four-game streak without success that goes back to the December 8 win in Grimsby.

Southend may be bottom and on the back of a defeat at Leyton Orient but they have been playing impressively.

Before the setback at Brisbane Road they drew against Stevenage and Mansfield and beat Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Colchester.

“No game is easy in League Two,” said County manager Michael Flynn. “Looking at the table, is it one that we are expected to win? Yes, but we don't take anything for granted.

WARNING: Michael Flynn says Newport need to be on their game against Southend​

“It will be a tough, tough game. They will want to start the year in the right manner but so do we.

“They are a team full of confidence and a team with a rejuvenated attitude. They have had some very good results of late and if we don’t take them seriously then we will lose.”

Southend certainly won’t head west with fear about the Exiles, who lost for the first time at Rodney Parade last time out when beaten 4-2 by Oldham.

Jason Demetriou has pledged that the Shrimpers won’t go into their shells.

“Newport are doing really well but I don’t think any team in this league is unbeatable,” he said to the Southend Echo.

“It’s 11 against 11 and we know we will have to match their hard work, press and all fight for the cause.

“But we have quality in our team too and we’ve had a really good December. Of course it’s a hard test but we’re going to have to take it to them.”

County top the table thanks to their expansive approach with defenders encouraged the build from the back, a style that might have to be ditched depending on the Parade pitch.

"They've got to adapt to the circumstances around them, that's what any good sportsperson does," said Flynn.

"Play a game of golf and the wind is coming a certain way and you don't want to hook it or fade it too much.

"You have to play the conditions and there is a common sense element to how much we can and can't play. We have to adjust on our pitch."

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Southend United

Mark Molesley speaks to ifollow ahead of this afternoon’s game against Newport County

Mark Molesley Southend United’s Manager


Mark Molesley Southend United’s Manager talks to ifollow ahead of the game​

Link to ifollow interview:-
Link

Mark Molesley speaks to OS ahead of this afternoon’s game against Newport County

Molesley: Tough times this year will make us stronger

Mark Molesley Southend United’s Manager​

Mark Molesley believes the best is yet to come from his side this season as we head into the new year.

Molesley himself has had a successful 2020, leading his previous club Weymouth to their second successive promotion and back into the National League, before earning himself his first job in the Football League at Blues.

And he said he isn’t one for looking back at what he’s achieved personally this year but if anything will use it as a great experience to improve and be better.

“I suppose the New Year is a time for reflection but I don’t really look back at all,” he said. “I don’t sit back and think about what’s happened.

“It’s always about what is next, the next day, the next game; there’s always something to take your attention. I’m not one who lives in the past.

“What I would say is I’ve always had the same work ethic, always wanted to be the best I can possibly be each day and see where it can take me.

“I suppose if I did have the chance to look back, it’s been one hell of a year and a really enjoyable one personally.

“I hope to use that experience I gained this year to hopefully be an even better version of myself next year.

"I've never been one to sit in my comfort zone, I've always wanted to challenge myself. It can be daunting leaving your comfort zone but outside that is where real growth happens.

"Tough times is where you learn and you grow as a person and I'm hoping to use all the experience that I'm gaining at the moment and previously to really put that to good use in the coming year.”

Blues begin the new year bottom of the table following defeat on Tuesday against Leyton Orient and head to Newport County on Saturday who currently occupy top spot in the League Two table.

And the Blues manager is excited for what’s ahead as he takes the club forward, out of a tough year on the pitch, into what is hoped a much brighter future.

“There’s a lot of football still to be played and our best football is yet to come,” Molesley added.

“The way we work, the more time we have on the training pitch and the more our ideas get implemented I really believe we’re going to get stronger.

“There’s been some tough times already but the attitude and mentality of the group has been fantastic.

“I like to think the hard times coupled together with some players coming back and perhaps a couple of others joining us on our journey, all of that coming together can really put the group in a good place going forward.”

Link to full interview
Link


Mark Molesley talks to the Chris Phillips at the ECHO before travelling to the game with Newport County

Mark Molesley wants Southend United to embrace tough looking start to 2021

Tough test - Southend United head to Newport County tomorrow​

Mark Molesley feels Southend United should embrace their tough looking start to 2021.

Blues head to table-topping Newport County tomorrow.

And Molesley believes the clash will show just how much progress the Shrimpers have made in the past few weeks.

“You can look at this as a tough start to 2021 or as a great challenge,” said Molesley.

“We will certainly see how far we’ve come in the last month.

“But it’s a great game and one we’re really looking forward to.”

The Shrimpers, who remain at the foot of the League Two table, had been unbeaten in five games before suffering a 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.

But Molesley is demanding a strong reaction to the setback.

“We have to make sure Tuesday was just a blip,” said the 39-year-old.

“We have to come out fighting and come back stronger.

“On the whole it’s been vastly improved in the last month and we have to go out and show we’re still a strong team.

“I have full faith in our group too.

“They’re a great group of lads who have been working really hard.

“But Tuesday was a slap round the face and we need to use it as a little reality check.”

The defeat means the Shrimpers are now four points from safety at the foot of the table.

Full text can be found here:-
Link

The Big Preview

Newport County vs Southend United

​

Overview

Blues are set to face arguably their toughest test of the season so far as they take on League Two leaders Newport County at Rodney Parade tomorrow afternoon.

Newport currently sit a point clear at the top of the table and will be well-rested after their midweek clash with Exeter City was called off due to a waterlogged pitch in Wales.

Mark Molesley’s side though, despite sitting bottom of the table four points from safety, sit above The Exiles in the form guide to show that this top v bottom clash is far from a foregone conclusion.

Form

Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Leyton Orient ended Blues’ five-game unbeaten run, coming off the back of a Boxing Day victory against Colchester United.

In Southend’s last six games, Mark Molesley’s side have also picked up wins against Scunthorpe and Grimsby, while drawing on the road against Stevenage and Mansfield.

Newport’s last outing was a 1-1 draw against Crawley which extended the Exiles winless run to four matches having also drawn against Salford while losing to Leyton Orient and Oldham.

Last League Meeting

Tuesday 14th April 2015

Southend United 2-0 Newport County

Bolger 45’, McLaughlin 51’

Blues’ last league meeting with Newport came in 2015 when two goals either side of the interval secured Southend a 2-0 victory which sealed them a spot in the League Two play-offs.

Cian Bolger headed the home side in front in first-half stoppage time before Stephen McLaughlin grabbed Phil Brown’s side their second six minutes after the restart to wrap up the points.

From The Boss

"You can look at it as a tough start [to the new year] or you can look at it as a great challenge.

"We'll certainly know how far we've come in the last month on how we compete away at the league leaders. It's a game we're really looking forward to.

"After the disappointment of Tuesday it's one we're relishing.

"When we lose it's always my fault and we probably looked physically more tired [against Leyton Orient] than we had done in the previous games.

"When you look back it's probably understandable for some of the players who have come in and are now at the start of their season almost and working up their match legs; Sam Hart and Simeon Akinola.

"John White did two games in a week after injury, as did Ash [Nathaniel-George]. Physically we didn't get to the heights of what we usually have and we're a team built on energy and hard work. It wasn't through lack of effort of the players, it was probably just the game that pinched us.

"We have to make sure Tuesday was just a pinch and just a blip. We have to come out fighting and come out stronger.

"I've got full faith in our group."

Blues Team News

Mark Molesley will wait to see how Alan McCormack fairs in training today before deciding if he’ll travel with the squad, having missed the last two games with a calf problem.

Kyle Taylor is currently in self-isolation after suffering COVID-like symptoms and is just waiting on his test result to see if he can also join the travelling party this weekend.

Tom Clifford is another who faces a race to be fit for Saturday after hobbling off against Mansfield before Christmas with his ankle injury forcing the full-back to miss the last two matches.

Newport Dangerman

With the impressive Scott Twine likely to go back to his parent club, Swindon, Newport will be looking to the experienced Padraig Amond to be their target-man this weekend.

Amond is adept on both his right and left side making him a menace for defenders and he’s a fan favourite at Rodney Parade after scoring over 50 times for The Exiles over the last three years.

The 32-year-old so far this season has eight goals in all competitions, with his most recent strike coming in the 2-0 away win against one of his former clubs, Grimsby, at the start of December.

Ref Watch

Southend’s first game of 2021 will be officiated by Paul Howard, with Ravel Cheosiaua and Christopher Wade the assistants, and Will Finnie as the fourth official

Tomorrow will be Howard’s 17th game of the season. In his previous 16 matches, Howard has shown 50 yellow cards and two reds, with his last outing being Plymouth’s 1-0 win against MK Dons.

Howard has officiated Blues once already this season – a 3-0 defeat to Portsmouth in the Papa John’s Trophy – and tomorrow will be his second visit of the season to Rodney Parade.

iFollow Blues

With fans again unable to attend matches in person, Blues fans can watch tomorrow’s clash with Newport by picking up a Match Pass for iFollow Blues for £10.

Overseas supporters can pick up a pass for just £7 with the pass allowing you to catch the game on your laptop, computer, tablet or mobile device.

For more information on how you can get your Match Pass for iFollow Blues and ensure you miss none of the action from the opening game of 2021, click here.

Oh Dear not again!

“Please note, match commentary on Saturday will be provided by Newport County and not the usual BBC Essex commentary team. This is due to BBC Essex being unable to travel to the game, which comes following new BBC COVID Safety rules relating to travel to and from a Tier 4 area”.

Luckily we can mute the sound unless you are listening on the radio, good luck with that.

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Blues!​

 

[Barling Magna]

More likely to be frozen than waterlogged.

Following two dry days it's now pouring with rain at Newport. Rodney Parade is the second oldest stadium in the EFL by the way so you'd have thought that they would have solved their drainage problems by now, although I guess the rugby players love mud.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Come on you Shrimpers

 

[Barry.C]

98 users on line here only 12 at Newport forum as I have now left theirs, so thats something we will win?

 

[crangoner]

?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1345355011820281857

 

[Cricko]

Oh great, they could of let them know earlier if it was in doubt. Newport isn't exactly round the corner.

 

[RobM]

Not much iFollow fun there, then. Just paid!

 

[Strykr]

Have a feeling we are gonna get mullered.

 

[in the know]

I would hope Newport have to pay travel and costs for our team if its called off so late without good reason that could have been foreseen.
Our lads went yesterday in two coaches to stay over.

 

[Bluegoose]

Not getting my IFollow until kickoff, just in case.