CITY’S biggest win of the season came from attempting nearly 300 fewer passes than they had done against Harrogate the week before.

The Bantams dominated Newport to record a convincing 4-1 victory at Rodney Parade.

But it was only the third time that they have had less of the ball with Newport shading the possession argument on 53 per cent.

City’s total of 376 attempted passes was miles down on the 669 in the Harrogate draw when they were booed by some home fans at the end.

The 64 per cent pass accuracy rating was also the lowest in their nine league games.

They made marginally less passes at Crawley (365), where City played the whole second half with 10 men after Daniel Oyegoke’s red card, and Stockport (362).

And yet, ask any of the 411 travelling fans who made the trek to south Wales and not one of them will have complained.

 

 

With Andy Cook back leading the line, City were able to mix it up again and go more direct at times. The difference in their attacking intent was like night and day.

Seventeen efforts at goal, seven of them on target, four of them in the Exiles’ net - who cares how many times you pass the ball?

“Cooky gives us that focal point and an opportunity to go longer, hit somebody with more than a fair chance of retaining possession and getting people around him,” said Mark Hughes.

“In previous weeks we had to try and find a different way of getting round teams who were getting people behind the ball. We didn’t have the option to go central and put balls into the box.

“We had to work clear chances and get round the back and hope somebody would get on the end of balls played into the box rather than lofted in. With Cooky there you can do both and that makes a huge difference.”

According to the match data from whoscored.com, full backs Liam Ridehalgh and Brad Halliday had the most touches for City with over 70.

Cook, meanwhile, touched the ball 30 times - the lowest of any of the starting line-up.

Just one Newport starter, midfielder James Waite, had less involvements than the big striker - and he was subbed after 62 minutes.

Statistics, damn statistics, eh …