The Voice - Match preview #31: Newport County vs Bradford City Saturday 15th February 2025 3:00pm

Our away record is definitely not great,

We’ve 7 at home and 8 away from here. Obv the away record in general isn’t great, but the stats are quite interesting. We’ve only lost one away game (indeed any game given the one home loss v Donny this season was 2-1) by more than one goal, which was the Notts County debacle. The other 5 away defeats were all by one goal i.e. we’ve been well in the game in terms of scoreline.

Of course the challenge is going to be how, as a low scoring team generally, we turn games around in those circumstances, or indeed get that first goal.

Our form of late is primarily based on that strong defence, with only one conceded in 8 games (scoring 7 in that time, so not exactly prolific).

We’re clearly going to be regularly involved in tight games, no matter who the opposition is. Going to have to hope we can come out on the right side of a few of them away from home, on the assumption we can keep the home form going.

 

He was 35 yards from goal not at the edge of the box and had too much to do to enable the ref to be CERTAIN . That’s the issue. He was “certain” of many things he did , thousands thought he was wrong when making those decisions, inc Newport commentators .

 

Course they are. The main problem at the moment though with VAR is the directive to go with the onfield ref. The decisions should be primarily made from the control room.

 

If we were to win all of our home games and draw every away game that gives us another 29 points so a finish of 83 points which would either be enough or very close so in theory we could do it do it with home form but it would be incredibly hard and involve ending the season with 15 home wins on the bounce which I'm doubtful that has ever been done at this level.

We've had a few hard luck stories in away games but we are running out of time to get the wins, Bromley is probably becoming must win or we are facing having to win 3 or 4 of the last 7 with some tough away games in them 7 positionally and long trips to Swindon and Gillingham

 

Hypothetically

A corner to Newport
Everyone is in the City box up for a corner bar Wright 60 yards from their goal still in our half
Walker catches it .
Throws or punts it to Wright and the last defender catches up with Wright after sprinting out of the City box.
Wright is pulled back before he reaches the halfway line by the retreating defender.

Using your anology it would be red I assume?

A useful debate to prove the rule is a donkey.

 

Got himself into a great posi, turning his man, but sliced his effort wide with outside of foot. Cook would have buried. He needs to step up IMO but the fact he’s done it in L2 at Morecambe offers us hope

 

Shepherd isn't suspended for Tuesday. Different competition.

 

Newport commentary thought he was clipped beforehand and believe had he gone down a pen could have been given. If you watch Sarcevic he certainly looked like he was claiming for something.

 

Let’s be more positive here

Given the red and resting of players this could prove one of the most valuable points come the end of the season.
These games would so easily have been lost in other seasons
0-0 aren’t the best when you have a 4 hour drive home but I’m taking this point.

 

I thought Mellon was excellent today and showed us exactly what we are lacking by sticking with Kav. I'm hoping he now gets an extended run.

I also thought Leigh worked his backside off but admittedly the quality wasn't quite there.

 

Chalk and cheese for me Kev. I thought Mellon gave us the physical edge and aerial presence we've been massively lacking. He was really unlucky not to grab a goal today despite being pretty isolated for much of the game.

 

He looks good enough to be ahead of Wright IMO

 

The more I watch Walker the more I think he wants away, might be wrong, great player but doesn't produce often enough, telling that no-one came in for him last month

 

I wasn’t impressed with his press and seemed to amble around the front. Maybe I’m being harsh .Its a balance but I’m sure he will get better.

 

Just delete the posts Rod, that what some mods tend to do...

 

Good performance today. Nice to see we actually tried to play football even with 10 men. Newport were gash and I've no doubt we would've won with 11 on the pitch. Leigh had his best game for us and Adaramola was very good albeit lacked end product.

 

Was really impressed Adaramola, very attack minded.

 

Wasn't one of our ex centre halves sent off at Valley Parade for a similar offence. Can't remember who it was though. I was worried when the foul happened, so subconsciously feared a red would be given.

 

Can’t remember one of ours but certainly a visiting keeper . Interesting debate considering it didn’t actually cost us the game . A fair result but the Sarcevic “goal” , is a real sharp intake of breath with pursed lips.
If the linesman spotted Mellons hand was offside I’m a banana.