Downcast County boss Dave Hughes reflected on his side’s 2-4 Sky Bet League Two reverse to table-toppers Walsall at Rodney Parade - irate at all four goals shipped which undermined his side's sterling display.
Hughes snapped: “We're not going to win games conceding goals as we did today.
"I give Walsall credit, but all four of their goals, were all avoidable. The first goal, there was an opportunity to tackle the space, the second, we didn’t secure the ball on transition. The third came from a long throw.
"Then the fourth goal, I don’t think the free kick was executed as accurately as we would have wanted. Disappointed would be an understatement because for spells we were in control, but it’s no point doing it if we give away goals like that !"
Highlighting the importance of Walsall's set-pieces, he moaned “We were expecting them to play a part today. That makes it doubly frustrating when two of their goals came from them!"”
On Walsall’s physicality, Hughes said, “The physicality they possess is a huge tool for them. Their centre back’s strength and experience is always a threat from set pieces. The big centre forward was a nuisance. We managed that element, but we didn’t manage the second phase of the game.”
The defeat was only Newport's second in six games and the team is finally showing greater potency in attack.
Said Hughes: “We still created opportunities in the second half. That shows the level of resilience within the squad. At halftime, we genuinely felt that if we could get the next goal, we could go on to win it.”
Midfielder Kai Whitmore, who cleared one Sadlers' effort off his line early on and sent a 20-yard rocket ripping into the visitor's net on 16 minutes to give County the lead, was singled out for special praise.
Hughes declared, “Kai scored a great strike. He gets himself in excellent positions in the box. We told him to keep his game simple and be the type of player he is.
"But we conceded immediately after Kai scored and that handed momentum back to them. . We had opportunities to deny the cross, we didn’t, the cover was wrong, the ball went back, and they capitalised. We need to be better in those areas.”
Hughes insists his side will continue to go into the crucial November League Two battles at Shrewsbury and Oldham on the front foot.
He pledged, “We go into every game to try and win. The aim is to win, avoid conceding, and provide ourselves a platform."
Watch the full post-match interview with Dave Hughes below.
