Joss Labadie – Exiles’ key component in Michael Flynn’s midfield

Joss Labadie, a star in Michael Flynn’s side as the Exiles beat Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium to end a three-game winless run.

The midfielder joined Newport County in July 2016 after being released from Dagenham & Redbridge, despite being voted 2016/17 Player of the Season by Daggers’ season ticket holders.

The phrase ‘everything happens for a reason’ is often incredibly cliche, but in Labadie’s case, it makes total sense.

After being let go by Dagenham, the box-to-box midfielder is enjoying a fifth successive season for the Exiles, tallying 106 appearances to date. Consequently, County have been the club he has spent the most amount of time at during his professional career.

The 30-year-old experienced the highs and lows of football at the beginning of his career in South Wales. Labadie featured 19 times in Newport’s ‘Great Escape’ season in the 2016/17 season.

He scored on his debut for the Exiles in August 2016 against Mansfield Town but was sidelined for three months after suffering an injury he picked up against Doncaster Rovers.

Despite the setback, the Newport captain returned in early December and scored again, this time against Crawley Town at the back end of the month. However, he was sidelined again with a knee injury for a prolonged period of time.

Since the Exiles’ chaotic campaign five years ago, the team have consistently finished higher in the table. There is a correlation between County’s finishes in the league and the number of times Labadie has featured in those games.

Newport have finished 11^th, seventh and 14^th in the past three seasons and are currently occupying sixth place in League Two.

It has been a sublime season so far for the Exiles as they’re currently three points off automatic promotion, but Labadie has been a key cog in Flynn’s side. The midfielder has played 22 of 29 league matches this term, including the key role he played on Wednesday night’s victory over Walsall.

He was matched up with Walsall midfielder Frank Vincent and the pair of them were constantly nibbling at each other.

Newport County’s captain won the battle on the night, optimising his physicality whilst drawing fouls from the AFC Bournemouth loanee as well as bringing the likes of Liam Shephard and Josh Sheehan into the game to play around the Walsall midfield.

Labadie was a threat higher up the pitch, creating the best chance for Newport after 42 minutes. Walsall midfielder Emmanuel Osadebe lost possession after attempting an ambitious pass with the outside of his right boot.

The ball was collected by the Newport number four who drove forward before sliding January recruit Nicky Maynard in behind. It was a 2v1 scenario, but Maynard opted to go alone, unleashing a strike towards Liam Roberts’ near post which forced the Saddlers shot-stopper into a sharp save.

The Exiles skipper was at the forefront of an opportunity for the visitors early on in the second half. The former Dagenham and Redbridge midfielder played a through ball to Dominic Telford, but the forward’s effort was straight at Roberts.

Michael Flynn’s side broke the deadlock after 71 minutes through the 30-year-old. Left-back Ryan Haynes delivered an inviting ball into the 18-yard box following a short corner. Labadie’s initial header cannoned off the crossbar, but it fell kindly to the skipper to prod home his first goal of the season.

The scrambled effort 19 minutes from the final whistle was enough for the visitors despite being under the cosh for the later stages of the game.

It was the ideal response from Labadie after being sent off against Oldham last month. He was shown red after 14 minutes of play in Newport’s 3-2 loss against the Latics. Instead of costing his team three points, he was the catalyst in a hard-fought victory last night. Labadie said:

“I know that the gaffer has got my back and I would like to think that I am an important figure in the team,

“Being captain, I should lead by example and even though I thought it was harsh, I gave the referee an opportunity to show a red card. My adrenalin was running high and maybe I was too hyped up.

“It was a disappointing moment and if it was 11 versus 11 then I am sure we would have got maximum points because the boys did brilliantly to dig in until the dying moments.

“I did feel like I owed them after that, and also everyone else associated with the club, but I can’t dwell on that I will just keep doing what I have always done.

“We’ve played together for a long while,” he said. “I feel that we complement each other really well and it was nice to play on some grass.

“It was a big win, and it was long overdue. There is a good feeling in the camp, and we’ve got to take that into the Stevenage game now.’’

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt