Left-back Bailey Clements felt the only thing that was missing from Town’s display as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Newport County in the Carabao Cup was a goal.

The Blues hit 25 shots, six of those on target as they dominated the game having fallen behind to Timmy Abraham’s fourth minute goal for the League Two Exiles.

The 20-year-old, making his second senior appearance for Town two years after the first, felt there were pluses to be taken from the night despite the defeat.

“Disappointing night but very positive as well at the same time,” he reflected. “A lot of us young lads got minutes in the first team. Everything but a goal to go with the performance.

“From their goal to the end we dominated the game and deserved to win. I can’t remember a shot they’ve had apart from the goal.”

Despite the loss, he says it was good experience for youngsters such as himself, Armando Dobra, Corrie Ndaba, Idris El Mizouni and 17-year-old Cameron Humphreys, who was making his senior debut.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “You always learn, especially under the manager, he’s been really positive with all us young lads, has given us confidence to improve and believe in ourselves that we can kick on.

“Since I’ve been a scholar I’ve been playing with Corrie, so we know each other’s games. Dobs, Idris, all my age, Cam’s come through this year and done really well.

“I’ve been playing with a lot of these boys for a long time now so it’s easier to understand each other’s game.”

Quizzed on why the goal didn’t come, he said: “Possibly a little bit of a lack of quality towards the end maybe, but sometime just unfortunate maybe. I feel we deserved to score, definitely had enough chances to score but it just didn’t come unfortunately.

“We moved the ball really well, we were patient in our play, we got a little bit sloppy towards the end but I feel we did well overall on the night.”

Towards the end of the game both teams looked tired and Clements, who joined the academy aged seven, says that in some cases was probably a result of an interrupted pre-season with the Blues’ U23s having missed a number of friendlies as they were self-isolating.

“It’s early in the season and a lot of us possibly haven’t played as many minutes as we would have liked to due to different circumstances,” he said. “To get minutes under the belt is important for everyone.”

Clements, who has had spells on loan at Hemel Hempstead and Dagenham & Redbridge in the last two seasons, signed a new one-year deal, which includes an option for a further season, in June and know’s it’s an important campaign for him.

“Definitely, it’s a big year for me,” he continued. “I’m not too sure is planned for me yet, but hopefully we’ll find out soon and it’ll be a good year.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Pencilpete added 11:04 - Aug 11 Just reading social media and listening to the radio i can't believe the amount of negativity already Anyone who was at this game will know that Newport couldn't have had any complaints if we have won 4-1 - we hit the woodwork twice, the keeper made 2 or 3 blinding saves, we had a goal disallowed (rightly or wrongly ?) for offside we had one hacked off the line - it was just one of those nights 2 things - firstly we created more, looked more dangerous and had more attempts than the shambles last season managed probably in the entire season and secondly this was not our first team by any stretch ...10 changes from the weekend can we all please just calm down and put things into perspective - yes we should have won and yes it's disapointing that we didn't but i'd happily take a performance like that every week because playing like that we will win a hell of a lot more games than we lose. i'd take that over all the limp, pathetic 1-0 defeats we used to have under Lambert where we barely mustered an attempt and our centre backs and keeper passed it between themselves at a walking pace for 10 minutes at a time !!!

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essextractorboy93 added 11:11 - Aug 11 Pencilpete - Completely agree with you, thought we played really well last night, especially considering how young a side we had out. Clements, Dobra and Humphreys were outstanding. Really positive signs for them. Everyone needs to chill out! If we are in a bad position come October/November then Id understand peoples concerns but we were brilliant last night, really enjoyable game. Thought we played well on Saturday too but made some costly individual errors at the back. Stay with it, we are in for a really good season! COYB!

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IpswichToon added 11:30 - Aug 11 The best team lost last night, without a doubt. I have complete faith that it won't take long before this team just clicks into place and we'll be banging goals in left right and centre. We are already so much more creative than last season(s), and that was something we were drastically lacking. I for one actually saw the game as a positive, and it actually gives me faith that a top 2 spot is ours for the taking.

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oldbri added 11:34 - Aug 11 Did anyone notice that the referee was standing about 2 feet from the ball and directly in line with the goal , when the free kick was taken, which resulted in the goal. .
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Michael101 added 11:51 - Aug 11 You are dead right lad, but unfortunately goals win games.
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TB42 added 11:58 - Aug 11 Agree with all the positive comments on here. Didn't see the game but have watched the highlights. I can't even remember the last time we recorded 25 shots?!?! Lots of positives to be taken from this game, including the strength in depth we appear to have despite all the departures and even more encouraging were the youngsters showcased last night. We could have easily won 5 or 6-1 last night and Newport would have had few complaints! Sometimes, luck just doesn't go your way but you pick yourself up and next time you get the result!! As an aside, if we are still in the market for another keeper, theirs last night looked fairly impressive!!

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ghostofescobar added 12:21 - Aug 11 Great band. “Missing” (Todd Terry Remix) always takes me back. Surprised young Clemo knows that one.
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Pezzer added 12:35 - Aug 11 Success is worth the wait. Despite the early frustrations in the two games so far there are some real positives. If we can develop a strong central defence then we have reasons to be optimistic.
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Saxonblue74 added 12:47 - Aug 11 Everything But The Goal....Missing.....Good tune!
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Mariner1974 added 13:48 - Aug 11 Nice use of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn musical duo. More tune based play on words please going forward!
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Mariner1974 added 13:51 - Aug 11 Great to see Humphreys/ Clements/ Dobs and El Mizouni making good shows of themselves. They'll have seen all the exits this summer, and will know they can't rest on their laurels. Have to step up when they get the chance. Be great if they build on this promise and we can make good use of them, rather than have to release/ or let them go to other clubs.
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bigbluetractor added 15:12 - Aug 11 A much more rational set of comments on here than on the match report from yesterday evening or that which was seen on social media. I'm sure anybody who attended the game will have seen that there were loads of positives to take away and unfortunately it was just one of those nights. Early signs that we are playing exciting football now and love that the team seem to want to keep the ball on the ground. Unfortunately as was seen on Saturday and last night, teams will come to PR and park the bus so we need to find a way to break them down and be more clinical with our chances. Still very excited about the season ahead.

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rebel_blue added 15:40 - Aug 11 Pencilpete - absolutely spot on! We are going to have to be patient initially, but I firmly believe with the squad Ashton and Cook are building and once we find chemistry, form and a settled starting XI, we're going to be a real force. I cannot remember a time when we had real quality and options in most areas of the pitch. We also have to take into consideration that a lot of old guard/ hierarchy in the dressing room are now gone ie Chambers, Skuse, Downes and Sears, and now that's got to be re-established in this new dressing room. Those boys would have helped new signings settle in etc. There were positives from the game last night no doubt and certainly not going to over react to us losing. Dobra was the best player on the pitch in my opinion and looked a threat throughout when he got the ball to his feet. Once he adds end product and improves his decision making on the ball which only comes with experience, he's going to be a quality player. Question is, would he benefit from a loan spell this season for his development? I thought Clements did OK but perhaps isn't at his strongest going forward considering that PC wants his full backs bombing forward. My concern however is defensively - Woolfy grew into the game but every now again makes me nervous. We're going to have to get use to teams sitting deep and inviting our pressure to then hit us on the counter. Burton is going to be a good test - they are a settled team with Hasselbank doing a decent job up there with them.

5

Cheshire_Blue added 16:28 - Aug 11 What wins football matches ? Sadly, that is what we lacked, again.
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KernewekBlue added 16:54 - Aug 11 Keep the faith! Stick with the program and trust in the process. We were unlucky not to win comfortably. Lots of positives, decent individual performances, slick passing and good movement off the ball. Their goal led a charmed life. The luck was definitely with Newport. A deft flick for their goal but other than that, they weren't threatening. As someone already said, the best team on the night lost. A little more fine tuning over the next half a dozen games and we'll be getting there. The rebuild will certainly improve our fortunes in time to come. COYB

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Linkboy13 added 17:15 - Aug 11 Basically this was just like another pre season kick about to give some players some game time and in that respect it was fairly successful. It's hard to judge players in such a low quality game but the best thing to come out of the game was the performance of the younger players. It looks like we are going to see the same old Norwood injuries and antics off and on the pitch lucky not to be sent off on Saturday.

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DerryfromBury added 17:21 - Aug 11 Pencilpete - absolutely spot on! for anyone at the game that should be enough said.
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:00 - Aug 11 good luck with that, another loss and we are pleased with way things are,same old same old low expectations , Paul you will will be legend .
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Bazza8564 added 18:17 - Aug 11 Again, and Ive said this on another thread, we created 25 goal attempts with our second string, we lost in a cup we didn't want to be in and cant win, our fixture schedule will be a little more manageable as a result and still people moan. Did no-one listen to PC talk about priorities at the town hall fans meeting? 25 attempts on goal under Lambert would have taken 6 weeks. Why is everybody so downhearted its August 11th and we are building a fabulous new squad. These were our kids fulfilling a fixture, end of! Sadly a few people are too simple to understand the concept of intelligence in our support. Pencilpete clearly does, he nailed it

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runningout added 19:48 - Aug 11 Think our new players are up to the task. It may take a few games. Although when comes to hitting the back of net, we haven't had the knack of pummelling teams. That maybe why and you have to except the negatives
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OliveR16 added 22:02 - Aug 11 “I've been playing with a lot of these boys for a long time now so it's easier to understand each other's game.” Quite. While I understand that this Cup is a place for a B team, I thought that Cook had said he wished for another friendly or two to help his first team-from-scratch to gel. So why ever did he rest the whole of that team that needs to gel?
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ringwoodblue added 23:14 - Aug 11 The unfortunate irony is that the quicker we exit these cup and trophy competitions, the less opportunities there will be for some of these younger or fringe players like Clements to play in competitive matches. A good cup run has far more pros than cons.
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johnwarksshorts added 08:40 - Aug 12 All the ingredients are still in the mixing bowl, it won't be long until we have a Bueatiful cake. COYB!
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:56 - Aug 12 exactly ringwoodblue .
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Linkboy13 added 12:39 - Aug 12 Rumours going around that Cook wants to off load Norwood. I think he's a half decent striker, but more trouble than he's worth and always in the news for one reason or another and he's injured again.
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