Newport County AFC boss has reiterated ‘there is no Plan B’ as they attempt to respond to their aerial bombardment at Bromley by stunning League Two leaders Walsall
After falling behind 3-0 due to goals from corners, the Exiles lost 5-2 at Hayes Lane on Boxing Day.
After a headed fourth, Kieron Evans and Kai Whitmore scored goals to spark a late comeback, and Bromley rightfully had the last say with a curled free-kick.
Having crushed Milton Keynes Dons 6-3, County went to London with confidence, but the Football League new boys mercilessly exposed their set-play weaknesses.
Jardim, the head coach, was brought in to create a possession-based strategy and emphasized that Bromley’s success was largely down to their execution of it.
We will obviously attempt to play football and generate goals in this manner,” the manager stated.
“We will not change our strategy; we have no backup plan and will continue to play as we have for the past 20 minutes. Can we perform better? Indeed, we are able to.
“Walsall and Bromley won’t be all that different, and we’ve seen that they also score from set plays.”
“Every game we will have our approach and expect to compete better and adjust what we need to.
“Positionings and height does have a massive influence and we are quite a small team, but it’s about controlling different areas.
“You can resolve it by having more of the ball in the opposition half and not conceding so many corners and free-kicks near to your box.”
County now travel to face a Walsall side who are surprise leaders of the fourth tier and looking in great shape for promotion.
Matt Sadler’s Saddlers are on a 12-game unbeaten streak that goes back to October 1, while they are hunting a sixth straight win.
On Boxing Day they beat promotion rivals Doncaster 2-0 at the Bescot on Boxing Day in front of 7,220 fans.
“The team has shown desire, character and energy to come back from big defeats. We have to learn from this and adjust,” said Jardim after Bromley.
County travel to Walsall on Sunday before starting January with home encounters against AFC Wimbledon and struggling Morecambe.
The Exiles are 18th in the table, nine points above the relegation zone and eight off the play-offs as Jardim hunts a ‘comfortable’ season after wholesale changes last summer.
