Newport County midfielder Kieron Evans expressed his delight at scoring his first goal in black and amber, but acknowledged that both he and the squad must learn from the positives and mistakes in their 2-1 defeat to Cheltenham Town.
After Newport took a first-half lead through Evans, the game shifted in the visitors’ favour when young goalkeeper Jacob Carney was shown a red card for a foul on the edge of the area just before the interval.
Evans believes the Exiles were dominant for much of the first half but inevitably struggled after being reduced to 10 men. However, the Welshman feels that last night's game provided valuable learning opportunities to help Newport avoid future mistakes.
“I think we were quite happy with ourselves in the first half. Obviously, we got the goal, we were on top, and the red card was the turning point of the game, so we struggled from there,” said Evans.
“Being a man down in the second half was tough, and to be fair, they were all over us.
“We need to take the positives from the first half and learn from the mistakes in the second half.”
Reflecting on his first goal for the club, Evans discussed how getting off the mark early in his Newport County career will help him improve his game.
“I missed an easier chance just before the goal, but I knew I wasn’t going to miss the second once I got it,” Evans continued.
“It’s nice to get off the mark so early in the season, and hopefully, the goals will come more often now.
“The way Newport plays suits me—I like to keep the ball on the floor, so it’s perfect for me.”
Finally, the Cardiff City loanee explained the thought process behind his move to Newport County and how past loan players convinced him that Newport was the right place to develop his game.
“It’s my first time in League Two. I spent two years in the National League, but I was ready to take the next step,” Evans added.
“It’s about gaining experience and pushing myself to reach a new level.
“I’ve got my first goal now, so I hope to get more, play more games, and support the team as much as I can.
“I believe this is the perfect club to help me develop my game.
I know a few lads who have played here on loan and have gone on to have successful careers, and I hope to do the same.”