Michael Flynn says he expects a response from his Newport County AFC players as they look to bounce back from defeat last time out by maintaining their unbeaten home league start to the campaign against Salford City tomorrow.
For only the second time in League Two this season, Flynn is tasked with picking up his Exiles squad following a defeat – they certainly provided an adequate answer last time when going six unbeaten and picking up 12 points.
County can start another run tomorrow at Rodney Parade when they meet for the first time ever a Salford City side who have been on a remarkable upturn in form in the past few seasons.
The Ammies have won four promotions in the last five seasons, securing the title on two of those occasions, and Flynn has warned his County charges that Salford would have developed a winning culture over that time and will therefore provide a stern test to their imperious home record.
He affirmed: “Salford have got a good squad. They have found their way into the division now having come up last season and they’ve got a really good manager in Graham Alexander, I know their number two as well, Chris [Lucketti].
“It’s going to be a tough game as are all of them. They’ll want to come to Rodney Parade and keep their mini run going. We’ve got to make sure we’re up for it.
“Salford are used to winning football matches. They’ve got good players, strong squad, big backing and if they’re there or thereabouts in January then I’m sure they’ll get backed again. It’s going to be a tough one.”
Reflecting back on the Colchester United defeat, Flynn added: “We looked at last weekend, we’ve been through what we needed to address and hopefully they show that tomorrow and we look like a better team.
“It was uncharacteristic of us, we started bright and the game plan was working but then we didn’t work as a team and it was poor defensively. But you have to give Colchester credit as well.
“I’d like more goals but that’s not just the forwards [responsibility], we haven’t scored enough throughout the whole team.”