Player ratings v Newport

[Elite_Pie]

Fitzsimons 5.5 – an easy afternoon, doesn’t look too convincing with high balls.
Tootle 7 – defended well, got forward well.
Duffy 6.5 – good positionally, didn’t do a lot wrong.
Brisley 6 – no frills, did his job.
Dickinson 7 – good performance, offers an attacking threat.
Grant 7 – took a while to get going, but his eye for goal is undeniable.
Yates 6.5 – nothing spectacular, but gives us a bit of shape in midfield.
Hewitt 7 – always in the action, covered a lot of ground.
Hawkridge 6.5 – helped us use the man advantage with good passing and movement.
Stead 6.5 – better from Stead, linked things up well.
Ameobi 7.5* - always caused them problems, some classy touches and a great finish.

Walker 7 – impressive in his short time on the pitch.
Hunt 6 – looks decent back-up for Tootle.
Forte 6 – no time to do much.

Looked likely to be a closely fought game up until the red card, then we bossed them and could easily have won by more. Some good creative play in the second half, the league table makes very pleasant reading tonight.

[slack_pie]

We were pants until the red, much like the Lincoln and Chesterfield games. Who knows what the score would have been if it had stayed 11 vs 11. Second half we romped home and should have scored 5 or 6, but Newport had long since thrown in the towel and looked poor. As usual, the long-ball tactics were tedious, and we only started to look dangerous when moving the ball quickly to feet. Some nice play in the second half though.

Fitzsimmons 6 - easy afternoon, some good kicking but dodgy punching
Tootle 8 - another good performance. Strong at the back and a real threat on the overlap. How many assists has he got now?
Dickinson 7 - solid, looks more confident now he's had a run in the side
Brisley 6 - did enough
Duffy 6 - same as above
Hawkridge 7 - looked confident on the ball and enjoyed more space than in previous games
Yates 6 - a physical presence in the middle, but nothing spectacular
Hewitt 6 - same as above
Grant 8.5 - scored 2, could have had a hattrick. Has that priceless knack of being in the right place at the time
Stead 6 - did well to lay it off to Grant for our opener, but still looked a bit clumsy in possession.
Ameobi 8 - great in the air, great with his feet. Nice to see him among the goals. And great to have a real fans' favourite again.

Walker 7.5 - looked classy in the short time he was on the pitch. Offered more going forward in 15 mins than either Hewitt or Yates did all game, but then he wouldn't usually get that much time or space
Hunt 7 - solid backup
Forte 6 - should have come on 10 mins sooner.

[navypie]

Though Tootle and Shola had good games and it was nice to see Duffy get a good ovation when he was subbed , not the best defender but anybody who witnessed the Hollis performance the other night will know just how much we need him . Nice little cameo from Walker but then again he had so much room in the middle of the park, Newports's decision to play 2 up front after the break though brave, was a little foolhardy and we could have had 6 or 7 . At the time I thought the sending off was a bit harsh and having it on TV my opinion hasn't changed . As a Notts fan I thought the ref was terrible so god only knows what the Newport fans thought of him.

[Notts78]

I said after the Mansfield game in the week, if Walker has time, he is utter class. Down to him to create that in the rough n tumble of League 2

[slack_pie]

Though Tootle and Shola had good games and it was nice to see Duffy get a good ovation when he was subbed , not the best defender but anybody who witnessed the Hollis performance the other night will know just how much we need him . Nice little cameo from Walker but then again he had so much room in the middle of the park, Newports's decision to play 2 up front after the break though brave, was a little foolhardy and we could have had 6 or 7 . At the time I thought the sending off was a bit harsh and having it on TV my opinion hasn't changed . As a Notts fan I thought the ref was terrible so god only knows what the Newport fans thought of him.

Perhaps they were unlucky with the sending off (I'd need to see it again) but he also bottled a clear-cut penalty for us. I guess he thought he couldn't do both the sending off and the penalty.

[slack_pie]

I said after the Mansfield game in the week, if Walker has time, he is utter class. Down to him to create that in the rough n tumble of League 2

Looks like it. I'd like to see him given more of an opportunity at home. But as you said, not sure he's able to battle and find space in a packed midfield, and also Nolan's tactics would likely see him bypassed.

[navypie]

Perhaps they were unlucky with the sending off (I'd need to see it again) but he also bottled a clear-cut penalty for us. I guess he thought he couldn't do both the sending off and the penalty.

I think your right , he did bottle it ,as clear as cut a penalty your likely to see. Thought it was good management by Nolan taking Tootle and Duffy off , both on bookings and he obviously thought the ref my try to even things up .

[The-Mac pie]

Looking at the whole game, some say yes, when Newport went down to 10 men we took the game away from them (like we did Lincoln) and if they had had 11 men it would have been a different game but you can only beat what's in front of you. Given our recent performances, this was a big step forward from where we once were. Different tempo to our game, closing down in the right areas, players just stepped up.

Ameobi: is in a different class when fit. I have said that from the moment we signed him. The key is keeping him fit and injury free.

Grant: will have off games and then will pop up with several goals. Give him a full season and then you will find his consistency.

Yates: young Yates, what a monster for his age, love him. This guy will just get better and better.

Stead: most games you will get 5.5/10 and occasionally will get you a goal with a 7/10 performance.

Hawkridge: will grow into a real good player for Notts,once he settles in.

Brisley: no nonsense centre back..would rather have him with us than against us.

Mcduff: has a fair few cock-ups,however has improved under Nolan.

Toots: love him,will be a Notts county legend..watch him grow.

Dicko: tip my hat to you me old cocker...you were a gonna with no confidence nor form whatsoever.

Keeper: doesn't like the high ball but is a great shot stopper.

Hewitt: doesn't pull up any trees,just mr steady.

Forte: has his chance,doesn't seem to quite take the opportunity but banging the ball into the clouds and say fetch doesn't help.

Walker-hope to see him improve his game.

Hunt: will do a job.

3 points

NEXT

[TheBlackHorse]

... just what is this near love-in with regards to Duffy. Yes, he's improved under KN, but he really is 5hyte; the obvious alternative isn't good enough. He's adequate when he doesn't have to think too much, but how many times do you see him avoiding a header, trying to be clever and allow the ball to drop behind him, turn and pass to someone. Opposition forwards soon sus this out and pressure him as he turns with all the speed of a WW1 battleship. I suspect he talks a good game and, at the moment, is lucky he has Brisley alongside. Would sooner see Hunt in as a centre back; oh, and Forte can go ... he's a luxury we can't afford.

[keldsyke]

... just what is this near love-in with regards to Duffy. Yes, he's improved under KN, but he really is 5hyte; the obvious alternative isn't good enough. He's adequate when he doesn't have to think too much, but how many times do you see him avoiding a header, trying to be clever and allow the ball to drop behind him, turn and pass to someone. Opposition forwards soon sus this out and pressure him as he turns with all the speed of a WW1 battleship. I suspect he talks a good game and, at the moment, is lucky he has Brisley alongside. Would sooner see Hunt in as a centre back; oh, and Forte can go ... he's a luxury we can't afford.

Well by the looks of the table there’s worse centre half’s in League 2. I know you don’t want to hear this but he’s been part of the collective effort to get us where we are in the league today. His reception when he came off was well deserved.