We’ve got Six Cup finals to win now, says Flynn

CARETAKER manager Michael Flynn says Newport County now have six cup finals in their battle to avoid relegation and they must attempt to win every one of them.

A stunning strike from defender Mickey Demetriou earned County a 1-0 victory over Crawley Town at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Both sides had a man sent off after the break as Exiles skipper Joss Labadie and Crawley’s Welsh defender Josh Yorwerth saw red after clashing in an off-the-ball incident.

But County held on for what was a third home win of the season in League Two to move to within five points of safety with six games left to play.

Flynn’s men travel to promotion hopefuls Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle and Carlisle United and host mid-table Yeovil Town, Accrington Stanley and Notts County between now and May 6.

“We’ve got 10 points from 18 now and it’s been a big turnaround,” said Flynn, who replaced Graham Westley last month.

“I’m very pleased with the reaction from the players and the effort they’ve put in.

“They’ve got to keep doing that in every game. We’ve got six to go – six cup finals.

“I told the players I’m proud of them,” he added. “They’ve given everything since I’ve been here and that determination, that effort and that intensity has got to last every game now until the end of the season. “Nothing less than that will do. “We’ve got six games to go and if we close the gap by one point every week we’re going to stay up – that’s what I’m praying for.

“But we’ve got to go and try to win every game.”

If they are to claim more victories, Flynn feels his side have to be more clinical in front of goal.

“I would have much rather they’d finished some chances and it would have made it a lot easier on the side of the pitch when six minutes [of stoppage time] went up,” he said.

“It was heart in mouth time and if we hadn’t won I would have been devastated but thankfully we held on.

“We’ve got to kill teams off when we create the chances.

“That’s a couple of games now where we should have scored a lot more than we have.”

Flynn’s men are now four points above bottom club Leyton Orient and five behind Hartlepool United, while Cheltenham Town remain six points clear after they beat Morecambe on Saturday.

“We can only take care of what we do and that’s all I’m concerned about,” said the manager.

“There might be more ups and downs before the end of the season but I’m sure the boys are focused and we’ve got to do what we can.

“We just need more points than what Cheltenham or Hartlepool or Leyton Orient have got.

“As long as there are two teams below us that’s the points tally we’ll need.”