County look to extend their fine run in Crawley clash

NEWPORT County are back on the road in League Two this afternoon as they head to Crawley Town (3pm).

Mike Flynn’s side will be looking to extend their unbeaten league run to six games, while eight wins from the opening 13 matches mean the Exiles are third in the table.

They have 27 points and are four behind leaders Lincoln City.

“It’s massive progress,” said manager Flynn.

“It’s the best start we’ve had for as long as I can remember. I think we’re going as far back as the 1930s, but I’m not sure.

“It shows that it’s going well at the moment, but we also want the best finish we’ve ever had in a season as well over the final 12 or 13 games – things really would be interesting then if we picked up a few points in between.”

But the Newport boss warned: “Nothing is won in October or anywhere this side of the year. There’s a lot of hard work to do and we’ve just got to make sure we do it.”

Today’s hosts Crawley are 10th in the table with 19 points, while Newport will be looking to become the first side to take anything from the Broadfield Stadium since Italian Gabriele Cioffi replaced Harry Kewell in the hot-seat last month.

The Red Devils have won all three of their home league matches since Cioffi took the reins on September 7.

Flynn said: “No, it wouldn’t have helped [losing Harry Kewell], but I have to say, the new manager has come in and got some good results straight away.

“That would have helped things.

“Crawley could beat anybody on their day, they proved that when they went to Lincoln, so it’s going to be a tough away game. We’ll see what 5pm Saturday brings us.”

The game in West Sussex has come too soon for club captain Andrew Crofts who is nearing a return to fitness.

But, despite that, Flynn had nothing but praise for the job stand-in skipper Mickey Demetriou continues to do in his absence.

Flynn added: “I have to say, Mickey Demetriou was absolutely immense last Saturday.

“He marshalled the defence, his pass set Antoine [Semenyo] up for the winner and I thought that was one of his better matches.

“It’s good to see because, on his day, Mickey is a very, very good defender.”