Matt’s the way... old boy backs County

HE may have put the boot into his old team mates with an assist and a goal in Forest Green’s 2-0 win over Newport County last weekend, but Jamille Matt never doubted his former club would get back on the winning trail sooner rather than later.

The 1-0 win at Walsall on Wednesday night was just the boost Michael Flynn’s men needed after an appalling run of only one win in 12 league matches. To make it an even better night, the top two both lost at home.

The fact there are only nine points covering the top 10 teams, some of who have five games in hand on league leaders Cambridge United, shows it is going to be a topsy-turvy run in to the end of the season with nobody running away with the automatic promotion places.

“I believe 100 per cent that Newport can still be up there at the end of the season with the players they’ve got in their dressing room,” said Matt, who scored again in midweek in his side’s shock 3-1 home defeat to Southend United.

“I’ve got no doubts they will be up there at the end because they have got the drive, the manager and the staff behind them

“Every team has a blip, but it’s not going to last forever. If they can put together a few results at the end of the season, which is what you have to do, then that’s what counts.

“There are 18 games left and anything can still happen if you can put a few results together.

“Newport had a run at the start of the season when they were flying. Even though they’ve had a bad run they are still up there near the top.

“All you have to do is concentrate on the next game, next game, next game.

“Keep putting in performances and the results will come and you’ll go on a run.”

That’s the next task for County, backing up their latest, longawaited victory. They couldn’t do it after the win over Grimsby, but they need to when they host Stevenage at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

The fact there hasn’t been a game on the pitch since last weekend will help, but they have to find a way to overcome the physical and psychological impact the atrocious playing surface is having on their performances.

“The Rodney Parade pitch was in the worst state I’ve seen it last weekend. It can’t be easy to play there week in, week out,” added Matt.

“With the type of football Newport are trying to play it’s not conducive on that surface. I do feel sorry for them and remember every other team only has to play on it once.”