Newport County AFC have the mental toughness and resilience to bounce back from the agonising feeling of a stoppage time defeat to Carlisle United, according to goalkeeper Joe Day.
Jamie Devitt’s quick-fire double certainly gave the home side cause for celebration after a somewhat tricky run of results at Brunton Park, but for the middle part of proceedings County were well in the game.
That resulted in Padraig Amond’s bullet header and Dan Butler’s reactive finish getting them back level with four minutes remaining, but while chasing a winner they were given the sucker punch of conceding right at the death.
Danny Grainger sent a thunderbolt into the top corner via a slight deflection off David Pipe, and that was enough to give Carlisle United all three points at home.
Here, you can read what Day exclusively told iFollow Exiles following the conclusion of the contest in Cumbria.
On the late defeat at Carlisle United…
"It just feels hard to take to be honest. Again, it was a poor start, we then did so well to get back into it but to see a shot deflected into the top corner with the last kick of the game, it’s a tough one to swallow that but we’ll digest it.
"It’s just frustrating, having gotten back into it, the way we play meant we wanted to go and win the game. But we were a little disjointed, and when I’ve punched it clear, the ball has fallen to him [Danny Grainger] on the edge of the area and he’s drilled it into the top corner. Couldn’t believe it.
"Some of the football we played today, and have been doing this season, is brilliant and that’s why we’ve got to the heights we’ve got to in the league.
"At the moment, there’s unfortunately a few sloppy things creeping in as well, but in general some of the stuff we’re playing as a squad is the best for a long time.
"It’s just about getting the full-strength squad back. Some players are doing a great job in covering but once we’re back to it, I think we’ll be back to our best as well."
On the other goals apart from the match-winner at Brunton Park…
"Especially away from home after a long trip, on the script is don’t concede an early goal and stay in the game.
"We seem to have a habit of every so often of conceding early. That’s not something we can dwell on too much really this result, because we’ve got a big game coming up.
"We want to learn and eradicate things ahead of that game.
"Getting goals is obviously a good thing, I don’t really know how they’ll be feeling, but I know that I’m just absolutely gutted.
"It’ll take a little while to digest this one, it’s hard to accept really, but I’m sure Podge and Dan will take confidence from the goals they’ve scored personally."
On the 136 travelling away supporters…
"It was fantastic again today from the away supporters, you could hear them for the whole game, so I have to give a big thank you to them.
"They were a massive part in getting us back to that 2-2 scoreline but unfortunately, we couldn’t quite see it out for them. Fantastic support away from home again from them so big thanks for that."
On focus turning to cup competitions for the next ten days…
"You could say it’s a great tie but let me tell you, there is no easy tie in the FA Cup. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, it brings the best out of both teams sometimes and we’re going to have to be at our very best, be on top of everything 100%, to go there and beat them.
"I imagine it’s going to be a tough game. You always give teams the upmost respect, but we have to go there and make sure we dominate the game with how we want to play.
"We’ll have our game plan and we’ll put it into practise this week in training. We know from last season how important an FA Cup run can be and we want a repeat of that this season as well.
"We won’t go there with any fear, once you cross the white line, any game is a game for me. We’ll have to look at things this week, it’ll probably be a different preparation because it’s not the league but like any game, we’ll prepare to win it.
"There’s an opportunity there now in the CheckaTrade Trophy as well where we know if we win then we progress.
"That’s something we’ll look at as well after the Met Police game. All we’ll be focused on this week in training is the FA Cup game."
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