Tougher Exiles edge leaves boss Rowberry impressed
NEWPORT COUNTY manager James Rowberry was left impressed by the new-found physical edge of his side despite being held to a draw at Sutton United.
The Exiles wasted several opportunities to take all three points on the opening weekend of the League Two season but showed a lot of character after falling behind to Omar Bugiel’s opener, before summer singing Omar Bogle equalised.
Despite failing to win, Rowberry was encouraged by the tenacity of his players.
“I am really pleased, it’s a good start to the season with a point away from home,” said Rowberry. “I was always told that if you draw your away games and win at home then you’ll do all right.
“It’s an improvement and development from last season when we came here and lost. We went a goal down and came back from a set play.
“It’s different when you come to Sutton, you have to adapt because they are a tough team to play against, but I felt we dealt with that well. I think we have shown greater physicality.
“We showed that we can do both elements of the game. People talk about the purer side, which we demonstrated last year, but now we have shown that physical element that we need at times.
“Now we can do both but when we went into the front line, we showed how well we can link up play, because they really pressed us and got on top of us.”
Newport weren’t as clinical as
SUTTON UNITED .............. 1 NEWPORT COUNTY ......... 1
they needed to be in front of goal, but they were the better side for large periods with their 3-5-2 formation causing Sutton problems.
Rowberry handed competitive debuts to summer arrivals Offrande Zanzala, Will Evans, Sam Bowen and Aaron Wildig. They all put in strong performances, but they weren’t quite in tune with each other and it will take a few games for the team to gel.
“Seven new players made their club debuts, and we bear that in mind,” said Rowberry.
“We always have things to work on and you can’t judge our midfield on today because it wasn’t really a game to play through them.
“We went around and beyond Sutton but what pleased me with the three of them was that we could get around first contacts and second balls, we could be industrious.
“There has always been question marks about us with that, but hopefully we are putting that to bed. Certain games dictate certain styles and we showed that today.
“What will happen now, once you see Oz (Zanzala) running in behind, is that teams will have to drop off and then you get Aaron Wildig and Sam Bowen on the ball, and you evolve your game that way.”
Next up for the Exiles is a reunion with their popular former manager Michael Flynn, who brings his Walsall side to Rodney Parade on Saturday.