Newport boss Flynn challenges players to take play-off chance

Posted Saturday, April 20, 2019 by PA

Newport manager Michael Flynn has challenged his players to grasp their play-off opportunity with both hands.

If the Exiles can win their final four games they will earn themselves an unlikely place in the top seven after a stunning upturn in form.

They made it four wins from their last six matches with a 3-1 triumph over promotion-chasing Bury.

Mickey Demetriou put Newport in front after six minutes when he got the faintest of touches to take Matty Dolan’s free-kick past Bury goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

But the visitors were level less than a minute later when Maynard latched onto Danny Mayor’s through ball and calmly found the bottom corner.

But Jamille Matt got them back in front after 13 minutes when he drove a shot through the legs of Joe Murphy after racing onto Robbie Willmott’s long ball.

And man of the match Demetriou wrapped up all three points in the 76th minute with a fierce half-volley from 12 yards out to leave the Exiles just two points off the play-offs with a game in hand.

“It’s an important three points that has put the ball firmly in our court,” said Flynn. “If we win the final four games we’re guaranteed a play-off place.

“It’s a credit to the players for getting this close, they’re an unbelievable group, we’ve been forced into some changes again but hopefully they can recover for Monday.

“This result puts us in really good stead, the boys will get a lot of confidence from that result because Bury are an excellent team. We showed the character to get the goal straight away after they equalised and Mickey finished it off.

“We’re a team, to a man they were excellent, if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it together.

“I’m not getting carried away, the shoe is on the other foot, we’re in pole position. The boys will be able to handle it, but they have to prove it now.”
Bury slipped out of the automatic promotion places but their manager Ryan Lowe believes they can still finish in the top three.

He said: “We’ve still got a massive opportunity to get promoted in these final three games, even though it isn’t in our hands now.

“It was a really tough game, we need to recover for Monday and go again. It wasn’t great, I think it was the worst we’ve played all season. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition but we knew what they were going to do, go back to front, but we caused our own problems.

“To get yourself back in the game makes it tough to take but I can’t criticise the lads because they’ve been brilliant.

“We’ve had some harsh words said, and we don’t want to be staring in the mirror come the end of the season asking what if?

“I’m disappointed in the football, we knew we couldn’t play as much as we would have liked on this pitch against a dogged side.”