Big game is not on our minds – Butler

COMMUNITY STADIUM 3pm COLCHESTER v NEWPORT WITH a trip to Wembley just four days away Newport County’s players will first be looking to take care of business in League Two.

Mike Flynn’s men head to Colchester this afternoon needing to bounce back from Tuesday night’s 3-1 defeat at Lincoln.

Excitement is already building for next Wednesday’s big FA Cup fourth round replay with Tottenham, but defender Dan Butler doesn’t think minds will be drifting away from the job in hand.

“We’ve proven already that we won’t become distracted by a big game,” he said.

“We weren’t fazed in the build-up to the first Tottenham game, we beat Leeds and then went on to win a couple of games after that.

“Lincoln was our first loss in nine, so I don’t think the Tottenham game will faze anyone.”

The midweek defeat at Lincoln left the Exiles 10th in the table and four points outside the play-off places while today’s opponents Colchester sit just one place and three points behind them.

The U’s were victorious in the last meeting between the sides at Rodney Parade back in October when second half goals from ex-County man Ryan Jackson and Mikael Mandron saw them leave with a 2-1 win.

Ahead of the return meeting, Butler is confident the side will bounce back from their reverse at Lincoln, saying “I think we will put it right against Colchester.

“We’ve done that all season so I’m confident that we can do it again, all the boys are really.

“To be fair, there’s not really anything different with them compared to any other team in League Two, maybe barring Luton who at home are a very good footballing team.

“I think every team is quite similar, we know that it’s going to be a battle and we know that we will have to work hard.

“We need to stick to our game plan and I’m confident that we can go there and get three points.”

Meanwhile boss Flynn is expecting a response from his players.

He said: “We’ve got to dust ourselves down and go again. I’m looking for a reaction.

“Colchester are a good team. If we defend like we did the other night at Lincoln we’ll probably end up losing but if we defend how we did against Tottenham we’ll end up winning. It’s as simple as that.”