Two Consecutive League Games Without A Goal
Friday night’s defeat at the Oval means The New Saints have failed to score in either of their last two JD Cymru Premier matches. For a side that’s known for hitting the back of the net (having done so 99 times in the league last season) that’s certainly not something that you expect to read.
The last time that happened was November 2018, when a 1-0 defeat at Aberystwyth was followed by a 1-0 reverse at home against, ironically, Caernarfon Town. Following those two matches however, Scott Ruscoe’s side went unbeaten for the remainder of the JD Welsh Premier League season. Could that be a good omen?
Still No Clean Sheet
If you’re going to go unbeaten for the remainder of the season, one thing that won’t harm your cause is keeping clean sheets, and Jamie Breese’s 71st minute goal means that it’s now 10 matches in a row in which The New Saints have failed to keep one.
Having let in just 16 goals in the league last season, that total already stands at 11 this time around, with just nine matches played.
Jamie Breese
While we’re often praising TNS players for their goalscoring prowess, this time, it’s Caernarfon man, Jamie Breese in the spotlight.
Having scored the winner for his side against Newtown last weekend, the in-form Canaries’ man pulled off the same feat a week later, as he scored his fourth goal of the season against The Saints. It’s no surprise the home fans were signing ‘Breesey’s on fire’ come the end of the night.
Fourth In The JD Cymru Premier Table
Friday’s defeat, combined with results elsewhere, leave The New Saints in fourth place in the JD Cymru Premier table – a very unfamiliar position for the 13 time champions.
For the neutral, it’s been one of the most exciting starts to a Cymru Premier campaign for some time, with a number of clubs battling for early superiority at the top of the table.
Although in fourth place, a win for TNS against Airbus next time out could send them back up to second – which highlights just how tight it is in the top six at the moment.
A Long Way Still To Go
Although The Saints are seven points behind leaders, Barry Town United, we have only played nine matches in a 32 game season, so there’s still plenty of time for Scott Ruscoe’s side to turn things around.
Let’s not forget, after nine games last season, TNS only had 19 points (three more than they currently do this time around) and still won the league by 12 points come the end of the season, so there’s certainly no reason to be getting too concerned just yet.
