Swindon Town player ratings after win over Newport County

Dan Kemp rounded Jonathan Maxted after eight minutes to put Swindon into the lead, before Rushian Hepburn-Murphy came off the bench to turn home the second.

So, how did the players fare as individuals at the County Ground?

GK: Murphy Mahoney – 6

Another solid performance from Mahoney. Good work ahead of him meant that Newport had few good chances and there was no highlight reel save for him today. But he did everything he needed to and did it well.

RCB: Udoka Godwin-Malife – 6

Another lockdown performance from Godwin-Malife. He stepped in to make good interceptions on a few occasions and gave Newport no change throughout. Like many of his teammates, he was guilty of loose passes during the first half, but overall, he was very solid.

Udoka Godwin-Malife dribbles beyond his marker (Image: Andy Crook)

CB: Tom Brewitt – 7

Omar Bogle got the better of him on a couple of occasions, but Brewitt definitely won the battle overall. He lives to make big tackles and head the ball away and he did that in a big way. He has gone from probably the most replaceable player on the team at the start of the season to an automatic starter.

LCB: Frazer Blake-Tracy – 7

I mostly want to talk about the trivela pass in the first half, because it was absolutely phenomenal. If Luka Modric had done that and all that other stuff. Outside of that, the way he used his body on multiple occasions to prevent attacks was excellent.

RWB: Remeao Hutton – 6

Hutton was a little bit quiet in the first half, but he was excellent in the second. His ability to cross off both feet is very impressive, and he had the beating of Shaun McLoughlin whenever he wanted to.

CM: Saidou Khan – 6

Khan gave the ball away a few too many times during the first half as Swindon were struggling to create a rhythm. He was getting forward well after the break and was unlucky not to score.

CM: George McEachran – 5

Another who was looser on the ball than he normally is and after a run of games where I felt that he was playing very well, this game passed McEachran by a little bit.

Tyrese Shade running down the wing (Image: Andy Crook)

LWB: Tyrese Shade – 7

Shade probably needed a good performance here and he definitely delivered one. The way he drifted around to find space and provide a passing option was great and he was very smooth when he received the ball. Arguably for the first time in his Swindon career, he has stamped his authority on his position.

CAM: Dan Kemp – 7

Eight goals for the season is ridiculous, there is no midfielder playing better than him in the league this season. He is excellent running in behind and also when he plays between the lines. January is going to be a very tough month.

ST: Charlie Austin – 7

This might have been Austin’s best game creatively of the season. There were a number of times when he dropped off the defender to receive the ball in space and then played a perfect ball in behind. This Charlie Austin would love playing with the 2009/10 Austin.

ST: Jake Young – 6

I have heard many people say he should have passed to McEachran, but he has to back himself to score from that position. If that goes in then maybe things are different, but in recent games he has not been getting the chances and today he did, on another day he could have scored a few.

Jake Young gives a thumbs up (Image: Andy Crook)

Subs:

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – 7

He was a little wasteful right after he came on, but he calmed down and Newport could not live with him. As impressive as his instincts to score the goal was his pass for Khan and his ability to do both of those things is what makes him such a big weapon.

Liam Kinsella – N/A

Tom Clayton – N/A

Miles Obodo – N/A