City v Newport

NEWPORT County AFC manager Terry Butcher had no complaints after watching his side slip to a 2-0 pre-season defeat at Bath City on Tuesday night.

Striker Lenell John-Lewis and academy graduate Aaron Collins missed good opportunities but Bath were worthy victors against the new-look Exiles.

Butcher’s boys suffered their first defeat of his short reign as Andy Watkins and substitute Nick McCootie netted for the Romans at Twerton Park.

“It was a great game for us to play, even though we lost,” said Butcher.

“We were beaten by a much better team I have to say. I hold my hands up – their movement was excellent, they caused us a lot of problems and they deserved their 1-0 lead at half-time.

“The second goal was a bit unfortunate and we had two great chances just after half-time as well so it might have been a different story.

“But you’d rather get a defeat in pre-season than when the real stuff starts.

“It’s a great lesson for the players in terms of having to work defensively as well as getting on the ball because when we did win the ball back we gave it away again pretty easily.

“Different facets of our game have to be better; it’s as simple as that.

“There is a lot of work to be done but they’ll learn a lot more from this game than if we’d won the match comfortably.”

Butcher says he expects his side to improve ahead of Saturday’s trip to National League Premier outfit Torquay United.

“It’s disappointing having set high standards in the first two matches but that’s what you get – especially with youngsters – that inconsistency.

“I’ve got no excuses, we have to work harder and make sure that we respond properly.

“If anything I blame myself because we worked the boys hard on Monday.

“We’re into the third week of pre-season now and perhaps we left a few legs on the training field.

“But you learn more from a defeat and more from a performance like that than if we’d won quite comfortably.
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“It was quite honest in the dressing room. The boys were quite forthright about what they didn’t do and what they have to do to put it right.

“They’re honest boys and we’ll get together and work hard.”

BenE wrote:Bizarrely there was segregation last night for about 6 Newport fans.

miker wrote:Just seen the highlights. I like the new patterned green carpet that's been laid on the pitch