Interviews

Michael Flynn pre-Crawley Town

19th April

Manager Michael Flynn says Newport County AFC must rediscover their attacking threat to reignite their Sky Bet League Two play-off bid.

The Exiles slipped to seventh in the table after Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Cambridge United, who struck late at Rodney Parade to climb to the league summit. 

It was only the second goal County, who have proven difficult to break down, have shipped in their last four league outings, although goals down the opposite end have been hard to come by in recent weeks.

And Flynn says his side need to improve their decision-making in the final third in their remaining five fixtures.

"We are not taking the chances that we create and when teams sit in we struggle to break them down," said Flynn.

"We've got some good attacking players but the decision-making at times costs us. We've got five games to go and we've got to find a way to score some goals.

"Unless we can improve our decision-making over the next five games it will be very difficult to score goals, and that’s the main part of the game.

"We’ve got some good players but they are just coming up short with individual errors and decision-making."

County were on course to maintaining the gap between themselves and the chasing pack before Declan Drysdale's header - coupled with Exeter City's goalless draw and Leyton Orient's win - saw both teams edge close to the play-offs.

They are hot on the heels of County - with just one point separating Flynn's side and the pair - and the Exiles boss says finishing the season strongly will be key to their hopes of a top-seven finish.

"If we had beaten Cambridge you never know, we might have chased them down," added Flynn.

"It wasn't to be and they are out of our reach now. It would be a very, very tough ask to catch them. They'd have to lose every game and we'd have to win them all.

"We need to finish strongly and hopefully that will keep us in the play-offs."

Flynn's side will look to replicate their performance against Cambridge when they welcome Crawley Town to Rodney Parade on Tuesday evening.

But they will be looking for a better outcome against John Yems' side, who are searching for their third successive victory after triumphs over Bradford City and Cheltenham town.

"We are one win in seven and that's not a good stat," Flynn said.

"But the boys are working so hard and hopefully we will get the rub of the green before the end of the season.

"We've got three weeks left, and let's hope a little bit longer at the end of that because that means we are in the play-offs."

Previous Next