Newport County AFC may have toppled the League Two champions on Saturday but Scot Bennett says the team are already focusing on the next two games to ensure a play-off spot come the end of the season.
The Exiles became just the second team in 2019 to take all three points off Lincoln City who clinched the title on Easter Monday and are so far the only team confirmed for promotion into League One.
Bennett was the unlikely hero at Rodney Parade as he got the matchwinner in a 1-0 victory after just seven minutes.
Matty Dolan played a clever ball inside Lincoln right-back Neal Eardley for Padraig Amond to race onto and the Exiles top scorer turned provider as he cut the ball back from the byline for Bennett to crash it in off the bar from eight yards.
It was only Bennett’s sixth goal in 143 appearances.
Here, you can read what the midfielder exclusively told iFollow Exiles following the conclusion of the contest…
On the victory over champions Lincoln City…
"We’re all buzzing to get the three points. It’s a massive three points but we also know we’ve still got to win two more games. We move onto Tuesday now with the same attitude as this one.
"There was a lot of talk about Lincoln maybe changing things but we knew with the professionalism they’ve got that they weren’t going to change much.
"They went with a very strong side and we had to put up a very tough, battling performance. They’ve won the league for a reason, they’re good at what they do when they put the balls up to the two big, strong strikers.
"You have to deal with that threat then win the second balls alongside trying to play your own game.
"It’s a very pleasing performance and we’re glad to get the three points."
On keeping a sixth clean sheet from the last eight outings…
"It’s not just the back four who are putting in the performances, you’ve got people like Podge and Jamma who battle back.
"The midfield works hard so it is a team performance and we’re digging deep to get results.
"To get six clean sheets out of the eight is really good and something we’re trying to keep going now.
"It’s massive to hit a good run of form towards the end of the season. We know what we’ve got to do and that’s win the last two games so that’s what we’ll be looking to do.
"We’ll be working hard throughout the week and going into the games on a high."
On his matchwinner…
"I took a gamble. I thought I could get in the box, it broke quick and I happened to be one of the higher of the three in midfield and thought I’d try to get into the box.
"Luckily it’s fallen to where I was and it’s a nice goal. But just glad to get the win.
"I took a bit of stick after the Macclesfield Town game because I had a few chances and one in particular which I should have done a bit better with. That was all part of the banter but nice to prove him [the gaffer] wrong and get on the scoresheet."
"Everyone needs to chip in because we can’t always rely on the likes of Jamma and Podge. It’s nice to break the duck, it’s been a while so that’s important.
"Mickey scored his first in a while against Bury FC so for us to score is nice but we’re just concentrating on trying to win matches."
On the crucial game in hand against Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night…
"They won’t be coming here and being on the beach as you’d say, they’ll be here ready to put in a fighting performance.
"We’ve got to go in now, recover right and get ready for Tuesday. We’ll be on high because of this win, the confidence, but it’s another game we’re focused on winning.
"I think they’ve changed quite a lot since we played them up there.
"They’ve changed managers a few times but they’re a good footballing team. They try and play the ball which is something we’ll work on.
"But we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves really. They are a good side but if we do what we can do then we’re good enough to beat anyone on our day."
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