Demetriou not taking the Mickey with gem

NEWPORT caretaker manager Michael Flynn was left indebted to Mickey Demetriou’s sweet left foot after his strike moved the Exiles within five points of safety at the bottom of League Two.

The blistering firsthalf strike from defender Demetriou was enough to see off Crawley and earn County only their third home win in the league this season.

Both sides had a man sent off after the break as Newport captain Joss Labadie and Crawley defender Josh Yorwerth tangled off the ball in the box.

But, despite late pressure from the visitors, Flynn’s men held on for a vital victory that keeps the pressure on relegation rivals Hartlepool and Cheltenham.

“Cheltenham won so it’s a massive win for us and we’ve closed the gap because Hartlepool lost,” said the Newport boss, who replaced Graham Westley last month.

“It was a great strike from Mickey. He’s got a very sweet left foot and I thought he was outstanding in defence as well.

“We should have scored more goals. It was a very good attacking display in the first half and we should have killed them off.

“But then in the second half when we had to dig deep and we had to be resilient, it was a very good defensive performance.

“So 1-0 against a good Crawley team and I’m happy.

“The boys have been fantastic – they’re coming off the pitch having given everything and as a manager that’s all you can ask for.

“I’m so pleased to see what it means to them in the dressing room after the effort they put in on the pitch.”

Crawley are down to 18th but they have no such relegation worries.

Demetriou hammered home from long-range with 18 minutes played, while Rhys Murphy went close just before halftime and the visitors forced Newport goalkeeper Joe Day into two fine injurytime saves.

And Reds boss Dermot Drummy felt his side deserved more on a soggy surface.

“We probably deserved a point with the chances we created,” said Drummy.

“The first-half performance wasn’t good enough for us though.

“We were flat, they were better on the ball and got the goal through our bad play. It was a great shot but we gave them the ball.

“We couldn’t play the football that I like to play, we had to go long.

“We created the chances but if you don't take them, then that’s how it goes.”