Author

Ed Lewis writes

Posted Wednesday, July 11th 2018 @EdLewisBCFC

Report: Bristol City 2-2 Newport County

Wednesday, July 11th 2018

City played out a 2-2 draw with Newport County in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly today (Wednesday, July 11th).

Padraig Amond and Josh Sheehan were both on target for the visitors, who raced into an early lead, but their efforts were cancelled out by smart finishes from Andreas Weimann and Marley Watkins.

The attacking duo formed a starting XI of mixed experience, as Lee Johnson also handed starts to Jamie Paterson, Korey Smith, Liam Walsh and Jack Hunt - all of whom were rested from last night’s victory over Cheltenham Town - while a Trialist started between the sticks at the sun-drenched Failand.

NEWPORT FLY OUT THE TRAPS

Despite being two leagues below the Robins, the Exiles dominated early proceedings and their intense, quick-start was rewarded after just seven minutes.

Sheehan powered forward and floated a perfectly-weighted ball over the top for Amond to chase. The Irishman opened up his body with a delicate first touch, before calmly finding the back of the net from a closing angle.

County doubled their lead three minutes later. Keanu Marsh-Brown instigated the attack with a driving run and having switched the play, Sheehan received possession in a central position and sent a low effort nestling into the near corner from the edge of the area.

City heads didn’t drop, however, and Weimann looked for an immediate response when he latched on to Paterson’s pass, but his powerful shot was deflected into the waiting arms of Joe Day.

Paterson then looked like he had halved the deficit, but his strike was crucially blocked by Dan Butler’s outstretched leg, with his effort looping on to the roof of the crossbar.

The League Two outfit went close to extending their advantage once more, but the Trialist in City’s goal produced two saves in quick succession to deny Butler and Amond’s close-range efforts.

At the other end, Paterson, who continued to test the Newport defence, powered his way into the area but was left frustrated as his left-footed shot, from an acute angle, fizzed narrowly wide of the far corner.

CITY FIGHT BACK

As half-time approached, Johnson’s side began to dominate proceedings and their efforts were rewarded when Weimann’s shot from 10 yards took a slight deflection off Mickey Demetriou, wrong-footing Day.

The summer recruit’s goal triggered a fightback from the hosts and the scores were level three minute from the interval. Day was unable to hold Aden Baldwin’s powerful downward header, from Walsh’s corner, and the onrushing Watkins was alert to poke home from a yard out.

County made 11 changes at the break, while City introduced eight new faces midway through the second period.

In a half of few chances, the visitors almost re-took the lead moments after the re-start, only for Jamille Matt’s powerful header to be pushed to safety by the outstretched Trialist, who produced an equally smart save to deny Scott Bennett on 60 minutes.

Neither side were able to carve out any clear-cut chances as the game drew to a close, but both sides benefited from the minutes in testing heat.

City will return to action on Saturday (July 14th, 1pm) when they host Shrewsbury Town at Ashton Gate, where quid-a-kid is in operation.

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City's first 60 minutes XI: Trialist 1, Jack Hunt (George Dowling 50’), Aden Baldwin, Tin Plavotic (Taylor Moore 45’), George Nurse, Marley Watkins, Korey Smith, Liam Walsh, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Jamie Paterson, Andreas Weimann

City's final 30 minutes XI: Trialist 1, George Dowling, Harvey Smith, Taylor Moore, Cameron Pring, Rory Holden, James Morton, Tyreeq Bakinson, Jake Andrews, Antoine Senenyo, Saikou Janneh

County first-half XI: Day, Butler, Demetriou, Franks, Forbes, Crofts, Dolan, Sheehan, Marsh-Brown, Amond, Willmott

County second-half XI: Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Foulston, O’Brien, Bennett, Trialist 3, Pipe, Cooper, Trialist 4, Touray, Matt