Newport County AFC defender Ryan Haynes says the main positive from victory over early League Two pacesetters Plymouth Argyle is that the Exiles can actually play a lot better than they did at Rodney Parade.
Manager Michael Flynn also spoke of his satisfaction about County winning matches when maybe not playing the perfect match, and Haynes believes a win in this manner against the league leaders bodes well for the rest of the season.
The 23-year old – announced as man of the match at Rodney Parade – got the assist for the matchwinner ten minutes from time when his pinpoint cross found Kyle Howkins to power home a header.
It keeps County’s unbeaten start to the 2019/20 campaign intact and continued the Exiles’ imperious home form at Rodney Parade.
Here, you can read what else Haynes exclusively told iFollow Exiles…
On the victory over Plymouth Argyle…
"The team were very good. I think we could have been better though and that’s the main positive we take from it. We got the three points and we’re still unbeaten in League Two so that’s hats off to all the boys.
"There’s loads of positives to take from our start to the season and there’s loads of confidence too.
"It comes off the back of a really positive pre-season, the club has recruited well, and it’s paid off, we’re still unbeaten so hopefully we can carry on putting on performances and picking up points.
"It is all positives. There’s a few things we’ll look back on and say that we’ll need to work on to be better.
"But yes, it’s all positives and smiles on the faces. No one really likes to come to Newport so when teams come here, you want to win and use Rodney Parade as the strong point to build off it."
On fellow defender Kyle Howkins getting the matchwinner…
"I think we defended very well. We can take positives from the fact it’s a very good team coming here, and we’ve picked up three points. All the fans can go home smiling and that’s the most important thing.
"I was taking the throw-in over on the right and luckily it came back to me from Joss. I just swung my right leg at it and happy to put it on the big man’s head for him to stick it into the back of the net. Three points. Happy days.
"Defenders chipping in with goals is always nice and it’s nice for Kyle particularly because he didn’t start the game, but he came on and got the goal. I’m over the moon for him."
On battling with George Nurse for the left-back shirt…
"George is a great lad. He did really well in pre-season and he’s very good. He’s obviously competing with me and he’s putting me to the test.
"It’s rubbing off on me because I have to put in performances like I am because he’s chasing me. It’s good competition.
"You want someone sniffing at you, you need someone biting at your heels and obviously that’s happening and it’s happening all over the pitch.
"The squad depth is really good this year and you can see that by the performances we’re all putting in."
On drawing West Ham United in the Carabao Cup Second Round…
"A lot of people have been saying that it’s our annual Premier League team coming to Rodney Parade.
"We’ll obviously look forward to it, we can showcase what we can do sort of thing because it’s on TV.
"West Ham are obviously a top, top team so it’s one to look forward to. It’s one for us to enjoy and the supporters to enjoy as well. It’ll be a good night.
"We can all hope and pray [for a win]. We’ll be going in to win, we’re not here to mess about, and we’ll try our best to put on a show for the supporters."