County in bid to avoid an early exit
NEWPORT COUNTY will tonight bid to reach the second round of the League Cup for the first time in four seasons when they travel to Roots Hall to face League One outfit Southend United.
The Exiles were originally drawn at home for the tie for the opening round of this season’s Carabao Cup – now under new sponsorship – but the game was switched to the home of the Essex club due to the fact Rodney Parade is currently out of action while a new hybrid Desso surface is laid.
Having saved their league lives in the most dramatic of fashions on the final day of last season, Mike Flynn’s side produced yet another stunning comeback in their League Two opener on Saturday – coming from 3-1 down to snatch a 3-3 draw at Stevenage thanks to super sub Shawn McCoulsky’s 94th-minute leveller.
And Flynn feels that never-saydie spirit will stand them in good stead this season – particularly with league trips to Crewe Alexandra and Coventry City to come.
“It’s a very tough start, but the boys have shown great character,” said Flynn.
“We’ll do that from now until the end of the season.
“We’ll lose games, we’ll draw games and we’ll win games, but, as long as they keep showing the right attitude and commitment, we’ll win a lot more than we lose.”
Meanwhile, Phil Brown’s Shrimpers will certainly be full of confidence having started the new season with an excellent 2-1 home victory over League One title favourites Blackburn Rovers thanks to first-half goals from Ryan Leonard and Michael Kightly.
Newport have fallen at the first hurdle in each of the last three seasons.
Their only win in the competition since returning to the Football League was back in 2013/14 where two goals from Danny Crow and another from Conor Washington inspired a 3-1 win at now-Premier League Brighton.