No mistakes now as Flynn’s Exiles enter the business end of the season

NEWPORT County manager Mike Flynn has called on his team to focus for the business end of the season, but he still expects one or two twists and turns in the League Two promotion race.

Flynn saw his side complete a deserved 2-0 win over Crawley Town on Tuesday night with goals coming from Liam Shephard and Aaron Lewis.

Victory means County stay seventh in the table and in the play-off spots ahead of Saturday’s visit to Exeter – a game for which Flynn expects to have key man Matty Dolan back from a head injury.

“It’s the business end of the season and we saw that when we don’t make any mistakes and are fully focused, we win the game,” said Flynn.

“It’s not very often we haven’t won a game after not making a mistake. There will be a twist in the tale this season and maybe in the top four because what Morecambe are doing is unbelievable.

“The players were brilliant against Crawley, but you start thinking when you miss as many good chances as we did that it might not be your night.

“We have an unbelievable amount of points, but the scary thing is we sat down and went through how many we have thrown away through individual errors

“It was 27 and that was being conservative. That’s frustrating because we should be higher up.”

Flynn saw his team dominate 10-man Crawley from start to finish. The Exiles missed several first-half chances before Shephard came up with a stunning, 30-yard strike which took a slight deflection.

After Crawley lost Tom Nichols to a red card for elbowing Shephard late on, Lewis completed the job in the 10th minute of added time.

Flynn also opened up on why he dropped goalkeeper Nick Townsend for the Crawley match and replaced him with Tom King. “We’ve got another tough game on Saturday now,” he said.

“I’ve said all season there is healthy competition. I’ve chatted with Tom and have tried to be true to my word. It’s a tough position because when they make a mistake it’s highlighted.

“Nick has been outstanding this season and that’s why he’s had a new deal. Tom has been champing at the bit and had to back it up.

“He had nothing to do, but I was impressed with his kicking and talking.”

Striker Ryan Taylor missed the Crawley game due to injury and is a doubt for Exeter.

Flynn finished by weighing in on the collapse of the proposed European Super League idea – one which has caused outrage in British football.

“I am glad it’s collapsed because it’s an absolute disgrace,” he said. “The fans have paid to watch and support their clubs for over 100 years now. It’s all good having rich owners coming in – and that’s been good as well – but you can’t throw away over 100 years of football.

“That is especially the case in this country with all of the tiers we’ve got and the amount of supporters in every tier. I am disgusted it was even thought about and cannot believe the clubs contemplated it. It has touched a nerve because first and foremost I am football fan.” really