Brian Dutton: Walsall were naive

After a tight game at the Banks’s Stadium the Exiles took the lead after 70 minutes and soaked up a wave of Walsall pressure to take all three points.

Throughout the closing stages they effectively time-wasted and won cheap free-kicks, helping them across the line, and Dutton insists his side fell into that trap.

“Newport are a top team,” Dutton said.

“They haven’t been showing it of late because for whatever reason they’ve struggled with their form but let's not hide away from the fact they have a really experienced manager there.

“They have some really experienced players too who have shown their quality tonight.

“Players were going down injured, the goalkeeper was looking like he was injured and players were cramping up. That’s all part of their game management to see it out.

“We can’t affect that, all we can do is not give away silly free-kicks. We were a little bit naive on that front.”

Both sides battled windy conditions throughout the game, meaning both teams were eager to keep the ball on the floor.

Dutton added: “It was a mixed bag for me. I thought Newport edged the first half but we were threatening as well.

“The wind was playing a part and in the first half we suffered a little bit because of that.

“It was the good, the bad and the ugly.”

The Saddlers originally fielded a 5-3-2 formation but changed to 4-3-3 at half-time as full-back Cameron Norman again moved into midfield.

For Dutton, that tactical change was in order to press Newport more intensely.

Dutton said: “We felt that we weren’t able to press how we wanted and with the wind we wanted to get in their faces and keep them penned in.

“That worked without creating as many opportunities as we’d like to. We were able to get more territory and possession.”

Meanwhile, player-coach Mat Sadler was disappointed to see his side lose to a set piece goal.

“We’re frustrated because we’re very good at set plays,” Sadler said.

“We’re the best in the division, especially at corners, it’s something we work tirelessly at and have a way of doing.

“We take real pride in it so when one goes in, and when it’s the winner, it becomes even more disappointing.

“The game has turned on that goal. It felt like it was offside, he was that side of us. I’ve had a look at it again and the referee is slightly out of position.

“He wasn’t going to be able to see whether it was or wasn’t offside. It’s frustrating from that point of view.”

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