Newport boss Mike Flynn targets League Two play-offs after Carlisle win

Posted Sunday, March 03, 2019 by PA

Newport County boss Michael Flynn has challenged his players to put back-to-back wins together to continue their rise up the League Two table after their 2-0 home win over Carlisle.

The FA Cup giant-killers had goals from newcomer Ade Azeez and Padraig Amond to thank for a victory that moved them into 12th place, five points adrift of the play-off places with a game in hand on the teams ahead of them.

Talking about his side’s chances of reaching the top seven to creep into the play-offs, Flynn said: “I am always hopeful, but we have got to win a couple of games in a row.

“We have got to back this up now. We’ve got two tough away games – Northampton have hit form and Colchester are tough at home – and if you offered me three points out of six now, I’d probably take it.

“I thought we were brilliant today. First half they created one or two chances from our own mistakes, but Carlisle aren’t a bad team and they play some very good football.

“They’ve got a good young manager and some good players. It was a very important win for us and it’s the first time I’ve won against Carlisle as a manager.”

The 25-year-old Azeez, bought on transfer deadline day in January from Cambridge, marked his full debut with a 14th-minute goal as he prodded home an Amond header from a corner.

“He is going to frustrate the life out of me at times, I know that, but he is so threatening. He is still getting used to us because we haven’t had a chance to train as much as usual because we’ve been playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday,” added Flynn.

“It has been tough for him to come in and he has been injured. I was very pleased with him today and it was an outstanding performance from Jamille Matt alongside him.”

Carlisle are even closer to the play-off places, one point back in ninth, than Newport, although this was their fifth game without a win.

They have two home games in the space of four days to come against Swindon and Notts County and manager Steve Pressley wants to see his side get back to winning ways.

“We are still only a point off the play-off places, which is a big thing for us, but there is no doubt we have got to get back to winning ways,” said Pressley.

“We can’t keep on giving away goals like we have in recent weeks and we have to do the basics of football better. There is no problem with our confidence, it is just tidying up on the small parts.

“If we can do that then I think we are a good team. Games are decided by small margins and we are disappointed at the result at Newport.

“The first half was a game of chances for both sides, but neither side created too much in the second half. Apart from their goal from the set-play, they didn’t cause us too many problems.

“It was quite an even contest if you take the goals out of it, but it is goals that decide games and they took their opportunities.

“Wins are a bit elusive at the moment, but I have seen some real positives in us.”