CITY scored some top-notch goals to get back on the winning trail against Newport.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Valley Parade for last night’s televised victory and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jay Benn has usurped player of the year Brad Halliday and showed just why with another energetic performance. The right wing-back bombed up and down and claimed two assists in a livewire display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The place erupted when Bobby Pointon crowned his excellent cameo performance with a fantastic flicked third goal in front of the Kop to seal City’s victory.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

City went to sleep for the first 20 minutes of the second half to allow Newport back into the game. Thankfully they snapped out of it the moment the visitors equalised.

TACTICS

City made one change from their previous outing at Morecambe as Neill Byrne returned from the injury that had kept him out since Walsall.

That meant Graham Alexander could revert to his favoured back three with Byrne playing in between Cheick Diabate and Jack Shepherd.

Corry Evans was straight onto the bench after signing on a deal until January. But Paul Huntington was not involved.

And there was no place for striker Olly Sanderson in the match-day squad.

REFEREE: Ben Toner (Lancashire)

BOOKINGS: Shepherd, Byrne, Alexander (City); Glennon, Townsend, Hudlin (Newport)

ATTENDANCE: 15,451 (with 91 from Newport)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 5 Newport 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 2 Newport 5

CORNERS: City 3 Newport 2

FOULS: City 13 Newport 11

POSSESSION %: City 51 Newport 49

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: S Walker 6, Diabate 6, Byrne 7 (Richards 83min), Shepherd 7, Benn 8, Smallwood 7, Wright 7, J Walker 7 (Corry Evans 90min), Oduor 6 (Pointon 69min, 8), Kavanagh 6 (Smith 69min, 7), Cook 8. Subs (not used): Oliver, Halliday, Doyle.

NEWPORT: Townsend 6, Cameron Evans 6, Brennan 7, Jameson 6, Glennon 6, Morris 6, Mawene 6 (Antwi 62min, 6), Wildig 6, Kieran Evans 6, Kamwa 7 (Spellman 86min), Hudlin 7 (Baker-Richardson 76min). Subs (not used): Jephcott, Greaves, Clarke, Carney.