Flynn not getting carried away despite Newport win over Crewe

Posted Sunday, August 12, 2018 by PA

Newport County manager Mike Flynn insists he will not be getting carried away despite feeling his side upset the odds in earning a 1-0 victory over Crewe.

The Railwaymen were coming off a 6-0 thumping of Morecambe in last weekend’s League Two season-opener, but they fell behind at Rodney Parade when Padraig Amond headed Mickey Demetriou’s inch-perfect cross into the bottom corner after 33 minutes.

Newport continued to dominate after the break but their lead would have been wiped out if it were not for the goalkeeping heroics of Joe Day.

Mickey Demetriou shoved Paul Green just inside the box to gift a penalty to Crewe, but when Green got up to take the spot-kick, Day dived down to his right to keep it out and secure Newport’s first win of the season.

“If you listen to what people were saying before the match, we were relegated and Crewe were the champions – it’s crazy,” said Flynn. 

“I’m not getting carried away but we showed the resilience we need to win a football match and we’ll need that throughout the season because it is not going to be easy.

“I thought the penalty was shoulder to shoulder, I’m not going to criticise referees but you need to be getting them 100 per cent right. Fortunately for us, Joe made a good save.

“Padraig Amond is exceptional in the air for such a small lad but I thought we should have killed them off in the first half. It was a very good display but I’m frustrated we didn’t get more goals.

“(Andrew) Crofts’ presence was massive, he was outstanding, Matty Dolan was as well. Fraser Franks, Scot Bennett and Mickey Demetriou were absolutely outstanding. They worked so well as a unit.”

Crewe manager David Artell was disappointed his players could not replicate the levels which earned them a comprehensive win over Morecambe last week.

“Our performance across the pitch wasn’t up to scratch, no one was an eight out of 10,” he said.

“We had a fair few players who were OK, we didn’t have any standout players. If you don’t have them you’re going to struggle to score and maybe concede.

“We had six or seven who were seven out of 10 and a few who would have got given a five in the ratings and that needs to improve.

“The goal was too easy, there was about six different things that all add up to a goal and it was the same thing. Those are the fine margins you need to cut out.

“I told them at half-time not to expect Morecambe every week, that was a proper League Two game. We just came up a bit short today.

“They’ve got a half decent League Two team who are effective at home. We should have got something out of the game.”