Abraham is spot on for Exiles
TRISTAN Abrahams came off the bench and scored with his first touch from the penalty spot to extend Newport County’s proud unbeaten home league run to 16 games.
Up until his introduction in the 73rd minute, specifically to take the penalty awarded moments earlier for a foul on man of the match Josh Sheehan, it looked as though Crawley were going to complete a smash and grab raid.
Once again County were looking to challenge for the top spot and Michael Flynn stuck with the side that won 2-1 against Scunthorpe three days earlier. That victory extended the unbeaten run this season in the league to seven games.
There was a confident start from Flynn’s men, but then they got caught up in a physical battle with Crawley, who looked to hit their hosts on the break using the pace of Bez Lubala and former County man Reece Grego-Cox.
The first real chance of the game fell to the home team after nine minutes. A sweeping ball across field from right to left created space for Ryan Haynes and the left wing back got into the box before teeing-up Josh Sheehan for a vicious first-time shot from the edge of the ‘D.’
The ball seemed bound for the back of the net before Glenn Morris dived full length to his right to pull off a miraculous save.
Haynes whipped in a low cross that bounced awkwardly through a crowd of players and forced Morris to use his chest to save after seeing the ball late.
Crawley weathered that particular storm and applied some pressure of their own. A good run into the box from Lubala produced a cross into the danger area and when the ball bounced after Danny McNarmara’s arm among a sea of bodies, Crawley shouted for a penalty. Referee Darren Draysdale agreed with them and up stepped Ashley Nathaniel-George to break the deadlock in the 35th minute.
Flynn made two changes for the second half, changing hi formation with the introduction of George Nurse and Corey Whitely for McNamara and Matt, and it almost paid dividends immediately. Sheehan hammered in a long range effort from over 30 yards out that forced Morris to parry the ball away.
It was Sheehan who drew the foul from Tarryn Allarakhia that forced Mr Drysdale to point to the spot again. Abraham came on form Josh Labadie and calmly hit the mark to earn his side a point. He almost won it at the end, too, when he hit the post in a frenzied final few minutes. CARDIFF City were denied their first away win of the season as a Tom Bradshaw double ensured Millwall took their share of the spoils at The Den.
Danny Ward took his chance early on when he headed home but City were hit with a sucker punch against the run of play when Bradshaw hit his first leveller.
A stunning strike from Junior Hoilett looked to have sealed the points for City, but Bradshaw hit another heartbreaking equaliser.
City played possibly their best football away from home all season, but that away win still alludes them.
Just one look at the team sheet and it was evident Warnock was yearning for his first win on the road.
It was an attacking line up, far more attacking than what we have become accustomed to away from home this campaign.
The manager placed his trust in Lee Tomlin to pull the strings in behind Ward, a striker who has been banging on the door for an opportunity in recent weeks.
Yes, Gavin Whyte and Junior Hoilett were restored to the wings to add that defensive cover, but, overall, that front four is one that can excite and one capable of both devastating on the counter-attack and sticking to its defensive duties.
It was interesting to note Leandro Bacuna had been jettisoned from the squad all together following his reaction to being substituted against Sheffield Wednesday last Friday.
The Curacao midfielder has been in form in recent weeks and adds a little more physicality than Marlon Pack and Joe Ralls, the preferred to in the middle of the park, which Warnock typically likes, especially on the road.
The game start with a little toing and froing, but the hosts were finding joy down the right-hand side, as has often been the case this season, with a flurry of crosses resulting in strong Millwall headers having to be denied.