Newport County Boss ‘Frustrated’ With Players Following Cup Defeat

Manager Graham Coughlan was frustrated at his side’s missing clinical edge in Newport County’s EFL Trophy loss to West Ham United Under 21s.

The Exiles succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to the Hammers, with 19-year-old Gideon Kodua scoring a long-range winner in the 62nd minute. The Welsh side struggled to convert their chances with 18 attempts at goal, only one of which was on target.

Coughlan cut a rather irritated figure in his post-match interview with club media, voicing his disappointment with the result:

“I’m obviously frustrated,” The amount of shots we had, and the amount of opportunities we created, it was disappointing. We played some really good play in the final third but we just couldn’t finish it off.

“I thought we were a little bit flat. I didn’t see any drive or determination. I may be wrong here, but they looked as if they wanted it more than us.”

The result puts Newport County in a precarious position in Group P ahead of a must-win game against Bristol Rovers in two weeks’ time. The victor of that game at Rodney Parade will advance to the knockout rounds.

The 48-year-old coach continued: “There were a number of occasions tonight where we should be reading things better, we should be putting ourselves in better positions. We shouldn’t be getting involved in silly things that go on.

“Sometimes tonight I thought we played into their hands and actually looked at times, especially in the last ten minutes, that we were the U21’s team and them the pros. It shouldn’t be like that and we have to do better.

“It was a frustrating night and some of the lads showed us this evening where they are at in their stage of development.”

Newport have a primed opportunity to bounce back this weekend as they welcome National League side Oldham Athletic to South Wales in the FA Cup.

Writer’s View

Graham Coughlan is justified in his anger. The lack of finishing in their defeat to West Ham has cost them dearly in their hopes of advancing to the next round of the EFL Trophy. It now leaves them having to beat League One opposition in Bristol Rovers to have any chance of a cup run.

Newport do not have an easy November. They need to pick themselves back up against Oldham on Saturday or the consequences could be severe. Having to face MK Dons, The Gasmen, Mansfield Town, Stockport County and Morecambe all in quick succession is a near-herculean challenge to face and come out of with any momentum. Coughlan must rally the troops against Latics to set them on the right path to navigate the many dangers that lay ahead of them this month.