Ahead of a monumental week in the history of Newport County it was on the field matters that took the spotlight at Rodney Parade as we took on Bradford City managed by Wales legend Mark Hughes.
It was County who got off to the better start right from the off as Wildig let the ball run through his legs and go to Will Evans who played in Wildig but he can only fire across goal hitting Matty Platt and going for a corner.
Last season's League Two top scorer Andy Cook looked sharp early on heading a pinpoint cross narrowly over the bar. He scored not long after to get his first goal of the season. Tulloch crosses into the box and Cook was there to head home for the bantams.
Andy Cook again causing the County defence all sorts of problems as he hooked a shot towards goal but it went over the top of the net.
Bradford scored 2 in as many minutes to take the game away from County just before the half hour mark goals from Rayhaan Tulloch and another from Andy Cook put Bradford 3-0 up. Some really nice passing into Tulloch for his goal. Andy Cook got the better of Declan Drysdale in a one on one race towards the County goal and smashed past Nick Townsend for his second of the game and of the season as well.
5 mins later we had a lifeline from who else but Omar Bogle! James Waite with some good play to find the no.9 through the Bradford defence, he rounded keeper Harry Lewis and pull one back for the exiles.
We ended the first half on the front foot with James Waite in some space shooting goalwards but he dragged his shot wide.
On the hour mark Coughlan switched things up and made a double change looking for pace up top with Matty Bondswell and Olly Thomas on and it had an immediate impact as Bondswell had the ball on the left hand side and won County a corner.
Things went from bad to worse for us as James Clarke went down off the ball holding his groin area and after some dialogue with the physios he was taken if the pitch. We are stretched at the back as it is and this just makes things even worse for Graham Coughlan but we will have Ryan Delaney back from suspension next weekend. Clarke was replaced by Josh Seberry.
Olly Thomas flicked the ball to the back post where he found Matty Bondswell but he couldn't sort his feet out and sliced wide. This was the closest we came in all second half.
Right at the death Bradford extended their lead as Andy Cook, who already had 2 goals got his hat trick. Another cross lead to him heading home past Townsend. This time it was a ball from Liam Ridehalgh which the no.9 got on the end of.
And that was full time. We were really poor today and it doesn't help that we are decimated with Injuries, throughout the squad we are missing key players and it is showing. With a busy October ahead you can only feel bad for Graham and the management team. For more analysis join Look Back In Amber tomorrow from 2pm on Newport City Radio with myself, Stephen Howell and Ian Lamsdale.
Newport County: Nick Townsend, Adam Lewis, James Clarke (Josh Seberry), Declan Drysdale, Will Evans, Bryn Morris, Omar Bogle, James Waite (Olly Thomas), Scot Bennett, Shane McLoughlin, Aaron Wildig (Matty Bondswell).
Attendance: 4087 (411)
MOTM: Will Evans
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