Weale on song to frustrate the Exiles
NEWPORT manager John Sheridan praised his side’s second half performance despite a frustrating 0-0 draw against Yeovil at Rodney Parade.
Sheridan did rue his team’s lack of composure in the box though as they wasted multiple chances to break the deadlock.
Sheridan said: “I’m obviously disappointed that we haven’t won the game, but I was really pleased by the way we played second half.
“It’s a shame we didn’t get that break, there was a couple of good balls going in the box that just needed people being a bit cute in the penalty box.The best goals are those little tap-ins.
“Their keeper has played well, he’s made one or two decent saves, but we were on the front foot and they were on the back foot, there was good purpose about us in the second half.”
A man of the match display from Yeovil goalkeeper Chris Weale was enough to earn the Glovers a point and frustrate Newport.
Weale made a series of saves in the second half to thwart a number of Newport attempts.
And Yeovil boss Paul Sturrock said: “Chris had a good save down to his left, he’s been very consistent, he’s prominent and he’s got the jersey because of that. But at the end of the day I’m pleased with the back four and the clean sheet.”
But Yeovil remain in the relegation zone and are without a win in ten games ahead of the home match with Wycombe on Tuesday night.
Sturrock added: “We have got to turn our home form around, that’s the key.We have an opportunity on Tuesday to turn it around.”
Yeovil did have the better opportunities of a scrappy first-half. A foul by Newport captain Mark Byrne led to an early chance for the visitors as Matt Dolan’s free kick was met by Harry Cornick, whose header rattled the crossbar. Newport soon replied with a chance of their own. Alex Rodman found Zak Ansah with a well weighted pass, but the Charlton loanee saw his shot saved by Weale.
Both sides struggled to find rhythm in a lacklustre first half until the 43rd minute when Yeovil new boy, Francois Zoko, who only officially signed for the Glovers hours before kick-off, saw his header sail over after Connor Roberts’ teasing cross.
After the break, Newport started to take a hold of the game and keeper Weale was forced into making a number of stops, including a superb reflex save following Scot Bennett’s goal-bound shot from a corner.
At the other end, Cornick saw his header tipped wide by Joe Day, whilst on the cusp of full time, Matt Dolan’s curling free kick missed the target by a yard.