Former skipper O'Brien not yet worried by Newport's defensive struggles

BBC

Mon, 23 Sept 2024, 2:07 pm·2-min read

Former captain Mark O’Brien says Newport County’s defensive struggles is not a worry – but admits the young Exiles do need to learn lessons.

He hopes the impending return of experienced pair James Clarke and Aaron Wildig will help boost the leadership he accepts Nelson Jardim’s side are missing.

County shipped four goals against both Port Vale and Swindon Town before conceding twice at Barrow for a third defeat in a row.

All games have been marked by defensive mistakes under pressure, and former centre-back O’Brien says it is a tough learning curve for a fresh-faced and new-look squad.

Only Accrington Stanley have conceded more than County's 15 from their seven league games so far.

Speaking after the 2-0 loss at the League Two leaders, O’Brien said: “One team were brilliant at the basics and the other wasn’t quite up to it.

“The consistency Barrow showed in making Newport defend and being on the back foot, Newport couldn’t sustain attacks going forward.

“And when the ball comes into the box, as a League Two side you have to be able to defend it.

"But Newport were under that much pressure the cracks were starting to show, and that lack of leadership a little in the backline with not having James Clarke, Aaron Wildig and Shane McCloughlin is starting to be a tell-tale sign.”

Newport now face back-to-back home games against Crewe Alexandra and Salford City in a bid to return to their early-season form, with Clarke and Wildig said by Jardim to still be “two or three weeks” away from fitness following injury.

But O’Brien added: "I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about so early in the season, but it is something that will need to be looked at.

“To call it a worry would be too strong; when you’ve got inexperience in the squad, the harsh reality of football is that you have to learn on the job - which is what some of these players are doing.

“I think it will take a little bit of time and when experience comes back I think you’ll see a different outfit.”