Poole earns praise as Newport get back to winning ways - 7M sport

Poole earns praise as Newport get back to winning ways



Posted Sunday, January 20, 2019 by PA

Poole earns praise as Newport get back to winning ways

Newport manager Michael Flynn hailed Regan Poole’s coming-of-age performance after the Manchester United loanee returned to help his boyhood club claim their first win in seven matches.

The Exiles academy product slotted straight back into the heart of the defence as Newport emerged from their barren spell with a 1-0 win over Exeter.

Jamille Matt was in the right place at the right time to score his 15th goal of the season to take his side back to within five points of the playoff places.

But Flynn hailed the return of Wales Under-21 international Poole, who he brought through the academy system.

“Regan was brilliant. I know what he can do, he’s a talent and he’s filled out now, he’s no longer that spotty 16-year-old we sold to Manchester United,” said Flynn.

“He didn’t get bullied once and you could see his quality on the ball dropping balls into the strikers.

“He’s been at one of the best clubs in the world and he’s bound to have improved.

“Everybody gets disappointed when results aren’t going our way but you have to remember where we’ve come from and what we’re doing and how good things have been for Newport County.

“I was due a sticky period, but it’s done and out of the way and if we had managed to convert the chances we had in our previous three games we would have had nine extra points.

“I promise I wasn’t nervous at all today, what will be will be. We did all our tactical work on the training ground and we reverted to three at the back and there was some really good performances out there today.”

Exeter missed the opportunity to leapfrog Forest Green into the playoff places but manager Matt Taylor was content with how his players stood up to the physical challenge.

“Overall I’m pretty pleased with that performance,” he said. “It was tough, we dug in and we knew that game was going to come down to a set-piece.

“We were really disappointed to concede a goal like that, we were in the right place at the right time for most of that game, but the ball dropped to their striker and he’s finished it off.

“There was nothing in the game on a difficult surface and difficult conditions. I’m disappointed with the goal but still pleased with the performance and how we stuck in the game.

“It wasn’t a game for clear-cut opportunities so it was going to take something special or a set-piece. We didn’t switch off in any way, the ball just broke to the lad – we defended really well which makes it hurt even more.

“In previous years we’ve wilted under the physical pressure but we didn’t do that today, but it ultimately counts for nothing.”

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