Newport County’s forward Kieron Evans opened his account for the 2024/25 season in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday. But the Cardiff City loanee feels the Exiles have plenty to improve following a 2-1 loss to Cheltenham Town.
The Welsh side led through Evans’ opener on 33 minutes before Jacob Carney was sent off before half time. Newport faced heavy pressure in the second period and Cheltenham struck twice to deny the Exiles a fourth consecutive win.
It was a bitter-sweet evening for Evans, who joined Newport on loan from the Bluebirds in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old came off the bench in the Exiles’ 3-1 League Two win over Accrington Stanley on Saturday before making his full debut in the EFL Trophy.
However, the forward showcased his talents against Cheltenham. His well-taken strike from the edge of the area into the bottom left corner demonstrated goal scoring prowess. Despite making a scoring start for Newport, Evans gave an honest assessment of his side’s performance in the cup defeat. When speaking to the Newport County website, the former Torquay player said there was plenty to build on.
A first goal in amber and black 🧡🖤#OneClubOneCounty pic.twitter.com/vGJbK9tsdJ
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) September 3, 2024
“I think we were quite happy with ourselves in the first half. Obviously, we got the goal, we were on top, and the red card was the turning point of the game, so we struggled from there.
“Being a man down in the second half was tough, and to be fair, they were all over us. We need to take the positives from the first half and learn from the mistakes in the second half.”
Yet the young forward was equally pleased to notch his first goal after making the short trip across South Wales to join Newport this summer. Moreover, Evans feels he is well-placed to develop under Nelson Jardim, who became Newport’s boss in July. The Portuguese explained his desire to play more possession-based football in pre-season, something that resonates with Evans.
“I missed an easier chance just before the goal, but I knew I wasn’t going to miss the second once I got it,” Evans continued.
“It’s nice to get off the mark so early in the season, and hopefully, the goals will come more often now. The way Newport plays suits me—I like to keep the ball on the floor, so it’s perfect for me.”
Writer’s View
Evans and Newport will be frustrated by the defeat to Cheltenham, who lost their previous four games before winning at Rodney Parade. But, overall, the Exiles appear to be heading in the right direction and Evans’ assessment that the first half sending off impacted their performance is true.
On a personal level, an early season goal for the 22-year-old will be a big confidence boost. However, he faces stiff competition in the attacking areas. Courtney Baker-Richardson has scored twice and Bobby Kamwa also netted once in League Two so far this season.
Whether Evans’ scoring exploits in the EFL Cup can earn him a starting place against Port Vale remains to be seen. But he will definitely want to build scoring momentum, whether that’s from the starting XI of the bench.
Be the first to comment