I’ve got a fight on my hands – Flynn

NEWPORT County boss Michael Flynn believes he is in a tougher fight to get his team back to winning ways now than he was when he took over as manager in 2017 when they were 11 points adrift at the bottom of League 2, writes ROB COLE.

Having only picked up eight points out of possible 36, and won only once in the last 12 league outings, County’s form has dipped disastrously, although they are still in a play-off place.

Tomorrow night’s trip to Wallsall is the latest chance to stop the rot after a 2-0 home defeat to title contenders Forest Green rovers last weekend.

“Every game is important and I think it’s tougher now than the Great Escape a few seasons ago because we have got a better team now – we’ve got better players and a better squad,” said Flynn.

“We want as many points as we can get and we need to start winning, it’s as simple as that.

“I test myself every day and I don’t know all the answers, that’s why I’ll keep learning until the day I die.”

While refusing to blame the appalling Rodney Parade pitch for the demise of his side’s playing credentials, Flynn is the first to admit that playing on it week in, week out is taking its toll.

It is demoralising for his players, who simply can’t play the style of football that took them to the top of the league in the first half of the season and kept them there until the New Year.

“It is draining the players. Other teams only have to play here once, but we have to do it every week.

“It’s draining the players and sucking the confidence out of them,” added Flynn.

“We keep telling them about not making mistakes, doing things in the right areas, putting the ball in the box, winning the second balls, all those things and still they make silly errors.

“We just need to draw a line under it.

“The only way you are going to get confidence back is by working hard and winning football matches.

“Every game is tough in this league and given the form Walsall are in they will hard to beat.

At least Scot Bennett will be back this week after serving his three match suspension to give Flynn a full complement of midfield players to choose from, although what he needs more than anything at the moment are goals.

County have scored a meagre 11 in a 12 match run that contains just a solitary victory and five draws.