County’s sights are on a record points tally

NEWPORT County take on Chesterfield tonight knowing victory will see them set a record points tally since their return to the Football League in 2013.

The Exiles finished ninth on 65 points in 2015, under Justin Edinburgh, but Mike Flynn could surpass that tally in his first full season in charge.

County currently sit in 11th on 63 points with two games left to play following the postponement of this clash on Easter Monday.

The relegated Spireites are on a bad run of form, with just eight points from a possible 36 from their last 12 games.

County have picked up 19 points in the same period and are on a good run of form with three wins out of their last four.

And, although delighted with the current form, Flynn admitted to a bit frustration with the playoffs no longer in reach.

“It’s frustrating because we’re finishing on a positive,” he said.

“We just had a bad run of form in February and March, and it was difficult after the FA Cup run.

“At times we’ve overachieved this season.”

Chesterfield are expected to be without a number of players this evening with Giles Coke, Jordan Sinnot, Sam Hird, Gozie Ugwu and Dylan Mottley-Henry all due to miss out, while caretaker- manager Ian Evatt could name himself in the matchday squad.

Evatt was placed in charge of team after Jack Lester was dismissed once Chesterfield’s relegation to the National League was confirmed.

The temporary boss has refused to rule himself out of the job, saying: “I’m really enjoying it and I’ll do the best I possibly can, try and win the two matches we have left and we’ll go from there.

“It’s obviously been a disaster of a season but we’ve got to try and change the mood somehow and hopefully we’ll do that on Tuesday night.”

Chris O’Grady fired Chesterfield ahead in the reverse fixture, but Frank Nouble hit a hat-trick in what was County’s first game on the new Rodney Parade pitch and resulted in a 4-1 win, with Padraig Amond also on target.

But Nouble who now has two goals in two games since his ending his goal drought in the victory over Accrington Stanley last week, could be one of a few players missing from the County line-up.

Nouble (hamstring), Mark O’Brien (toe) and Matty Dolan (ankle) are all doubts.

“I don’t know what kind of side we will be able to have – it’s going to be a difficult one,” Flynn explained.

“But we will put out the best team we can, and we’ll give it our best go.”