Flynn in search for comfort at home

RODNEY PARADE 3pm NEWPORT CO v BLACKPOOL NEWPORT County manager Mike Flynn is hoping to find home comfort to go with awayday success when the Exiles return to Rodney Parade to face Blackpool today.

Caretaker boss Flynn has overseen two victories on the road at Crewe and Morecambe since taking over from the axed Graham Westley.

The six points have seen County climb off the bottom of League Two, but they are still seven points from safety with 10 games left to play, and Flynn knows there’s a tough task ahead.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start and long may it continue. I want this club, which I love, to stay in the Football League,” he said.

“It’s been a dream beginning, but we are not getting carried away.

“I did say it’s not impossible, but it won’t be easy and we;ve got some tough challenges ahead of us.

“We have got to set targets and keeping closing that gap between us and the clubs above us game by game.

“I told the players I wanted to be off the bottom of the table and it happened. Now we’ve got to keep climbing, keep fighting and keep believing.”

The matchwinner in Newport’s 1-0 win at Morecambe, Ryan Bird, is confident their winning run can continue against promotion-chasing Blackpool.

“We don’t look at points, we just take it each game as it comes and if we keep winning every game in front of us then we’ll be flying,” Bird said.

“The last two performances have been fantastic and we can beat anyone in this league if we perform like that.

“When I came here that was my goal, to help Newport stay in the league.

“We had the belief anyway. The gaffer’s given us the confidence to go out and play, express ourselves and enjoy it,” Bird said.

“We played well against a very good Morecambe side, a big strong side, away from home.”

In the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division, Merthyr Town look to continue their bid for promotion with a trip to leaders Chippenham, who are on a 19-game unbeaten run.

In the First Division North, Colwyn Bay are also on their travels, going to face Ossett Town.