WHAT a difference a year makes.

Exactly twelve months ago, Argus football writer Andrew Penman penned a report about County’s first victory of the season, a smash and grab raid at Fratton Park as the Exiles beat the bookies and Portsmouth.

After much hysterical overreaction about their start to the campaign, County went on a sensational run after that catalyst victory and contended automatic promotion until the turn of the year.

Unfortunately, it was a dream built on a foundation of cotton candy and nonsense, because County couldn’t afford the squad that they possessed.

Namely, a squad of undeniable League Two quality, with an embarrassment of riches, six central midfielders, three quality goalkeepers, seven strikers and a partridge in a pear tree.

Now here we are a year later and heading into the game, swapping one high-flying P for another, there was genuine belief among many that the Exiles could repeat the feat.

They might not have the same resources of quality of squad, but to date, Newport had performed better this season than last, the quality of their displays highly encouraging.

Maybe, just maybe, they could fashion an upset.

They never came close.

Actually they did, in a frantic final ten minutes when both sides hit the woodwork and County did briefly begin to dominate, but that was more about Plymouth than Newport.

Plymouth, having controlled the contest with a vice like grip, got extremely nervy, poor finishing and good goalkeeping meaning they didn’t have the cushion their approach play merited.

But there can be no mistakes; this was a wretched performance from Terry Butcher’s men, their worst of the season by a distance.

There has been no overreaction or pessimism this term as there was last, because supporters appreciate the change of circumstances financially and that this is a completely new group of players.

There is understandable goodwill towards Butcher – a distinguished football man and a fantastic ambassador for the club – because he’s working with one arm tied behind his back in comparison to his predecessors.

But he can’t be having this; he won’t be having this, because on Saturday Newport, for the first time this season, looked like a team who deserve to be bottom of the league.

And bottom, sadly, is exactly where they are at present, albeit with some mitigating circumstances that are entirely separate to the issue of a reduced budget.

Butcher hasn’t once been able to select even close to his preferred XI, with Matt Taylor, the direct replacement for lynchpin Darren Jones, yet to kick a ball and Alex Rodman and Nathan Ralph both in the treatment room more than on the field.

And as starts go, without mistake, County’s has been horrendous, playing a succession of big budget, promotion chasing sides in good form.

Terry Butcher joked after the game that I had “cheered him up,” by reminding him in a question that the Exiles’ next three games are at home, but he’ll be earmarking York and Morecambe as vital, vital contests.

And he’ll demand a better performance after County’s lacklustre showing at Plymouth. Newport failed to impose themselves on the ball; they weren’t brave or inventive and never seemed able to win their individual battles in midfield.

Similarly, Butcher got it wrong in initially matching up against three Plymouth central midfielders with just Mark Byrne and Yan Klukowski to combat them in a 4-4-2 system. He did change things around and his side looked better for it, but not enough to truly say they were in anyway superior to the hosts after the interval.

To say the first half was dominated by Argyle is an understatement, Derek Adams’ side bombarding Joe Day with a series of efforts while on the counter, the Exiles looked ponderous and timid.

It would almost be easier to list the Plymouth players – their goalkeeper, central defenders and midfielder Craig Tanner – who didn’t test Day in a first period where the Exiles had everything bar the kitchen sink thrown at them, though in credit to Newport’s defenders, on few occasions were they carved apart.

However, five minutes before the interval, the hosts finally made their pressure pay with a goal straight off the training ground, a long throw flicked on to Ryan Brunt who controlled perfectly for Graham Carey who smashed home his fourth of the season.

No less than was deserved and though a re-shuffle and the introduction of Aaron Collins did stiffen the Exiles’ resolve in the second period, they would have been flattered had sub Zak Ansah found the net rather than the crossbar with a fine curling effort.

Goalkeeper Day did his bit to keep the score down – his second half save from Jake Jervis was exceptional – but there was no masking the fact Newport were second best.

What a difference a year makes.

NEWPORT COUNTY: (4-4-2): Day, Holmes (Laurent 60), Barrow, Hayden, Feely; Nana Twumasi, Elito, Byrne, Klukowski (Ansah 80); John-Lewis, Boden (Collins 46)

Subs not used: Taylor, Owen-Evans, Parselle, Poole,

Booked:

Referee: Mr Andy Davies

Attendance: 7811 (293 Newport)