Michael Flynn: Franks looked like Beckenbauer during outstanding Newport goal

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

Newport boss Michael Flynn lauded his side after their Carabao Cup win at Cambridge.

The Exiles progressed to the second round with a dominant 4-1 away victory, set up by Padraig Amond’s quick-fire double in the first half.

Jamille Matt and Antoine Semenyo netted after half-time, while Ade Azeez’s penalty in the last minute was scant consolation for the U’s.

A delighted Flynn said: “That second goal we scored was probably the best goal we’ve scored under my reign because it was an outstanding goal. It was unbelievable.

“Fraser Franks has come out of it looking like Franz Beckenbauer. He started the move off and it was unbelievable bit of football.

“I’m glad they managed to finish it at the other end. Fourteen passes, nine players and let’s be honest it was a great finish by Padraig. He should have seven or eight goals by now and that’s no exaggeration.

“I thought it was an absolutely outstanding performance – professional, clinical, ruthless which I’ve been asking for.

“That’s the standards that we set. That’s what we’ve got to be about. We’ve got to keep those standards because I’m definitely not getting carried away. We’ve got to keep it going.

“It’s one of those things that I’m really happy about. Am I going to get carried away? No, we’ve got a tough game against Exeter on Saturday. We’ll be a game for anybody on that form.”

Cambridge boss Joe Dunne offered “no argument whatsoever” about the fact his side deserved to lose the tie.

“We were comprehensively beaten,” he said. “I take full responsibility for the defeat. It’s just a bad night, everything was poor. Defensively we were really poor tonight as a whole team.

“The players were brilliant on Saturday to be able to turn things round and beat a top side but I’ve got no excuses. I don’t want to use Saturday’s energy for an excuse.

“(I was) picking a team and picking tactics that I thought would get us into the game but we were already chasing the game very quickly, which from our point of view is disappointing.

“However it’s completely my fault, my responsibility. I picked the team, I picked the tactics.

“The players were brilliant on Saturday, unfortunately today we came up against a highly motivated team to really put us to the sword, so absolutely no complaints. You want a bit of momentum and obviously a cup run’s important, but we were way off it.

“Newport were to a man first to the ball, first to everything. We as a team didn’t defend well enough in the key moments of the match.”