Mike Flynn insists it’s a point gained after Newport County AFC played out their second 0-0 draw in four days thanks to a stalemate with Swindon Town at Rodney Parade.
Just like on Saturday, chances were few and far between for both sides thanks to resilient performances from the respective defences.
Swindon arguably had the better moments of note during the contest but they encountered the unbreachable wall of County and especially Joe Day, who made some magnificent saves to keep the Robins at bay.
In the first-half, Keshi Anderson was denied twice after the attacker burst into the penalty area, while in the second-half Day had to use his face to get in the way of a thumping drive from Dion Conroy.
Read the full match report.
Flynn affirmed: “I think the way the game’s gone, the first-half we were on top of the game I thought and then two of our influential players have to go off through injury.
“Then the first half-hour of the second-half, I thought Swindon were outstanding. They were the better team so on the second-half performance, I’d say it’s a point gained.
“Especially with Exeter losing, yes, it is a point gained.”
The surprise defeat for Exeter City at strugglers Macclesfield Town proves just how unpredictable League Two can be week to week.
A vital three points for the Silkmen lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time since the second match of the season, while Exeter are now left looking over their shoulder in the final play-off position.
Securing a point at Rodney Parade means County do close the gap ever so slightly on the Grecians and Flynn is refusing to give up on the hope of a top-seven finish come the end of the campaign.
He added: “Six games to go, five points gap, game in hand. Why wouldn’t I be confident?
“This league is unpredictable, it’s tough. That’s the frustrating thing because if we’d have got the win, it would have been huge for us.
“As it stands, we probably need the same number of wins because of our goal difference.
“And we don’t like doing things easy, do we?”
It did require that unbelievable defensive shift for the Exiles to get their point against Swindon and keep the play-off hopes alive.
And as Flynn explained himself, a clean sheet added to a highly impressive statistic that has been building over the past few months.
Flynn explained: “What I’m absolutely buzzing about is that we’ve only conceded one goal in our last nine home league games.
“That is a fantastic stat. The defence ran their socks off again, Swindon are very quick on the counter-attack so it was a very good defensive performance because for the first half-hour of the second half, they were better than us.
“I always try and be honest and straight and it only looked like one team were going to win it for half an hour.”
The negatives for County were the early injuries to influential playmakers Joss Labadie and Jamille Matt, who were both withdrawn in the first-half.
Fortunately, Flynn was able to confirm both should be fit to go again against Cambridge United on Saturday.
He said: “Joss has a big gash on his ankle so he should be all right for Saturday.
“Jamille was a dead leg so he should be all right for Saturday as well.”
He continued: “Cambridge will be a very difficult task.
“They’re down near the bottom, probably need a win to stay safe so it’s going to be a tough game.
“We’ll hopefully go there with a fully-fit squad, I know Scot Bennett will be back as well so there’s an extra one for us.”
___________________________________
ON THE ROAD | The next destination on the road for County this season will be Cambridge United on Saturday 13th April. Buy tickets here.
ON PARADE | County host automatic promotion chasing Bury FC on Good Friday – 19th April 2019. Buy tickets online now.