Campbell praises Macclesfield’s stamina after hard-fought draw

Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2019 by PA

Macclesfield boss Sol Campbell praised his relegation battlers after a 0-0 draw against Newport.

The hosts missed numerous chances to gain breathing space in their relegation dogfight, while a win for the Exiles would have seen them move even closer the play-offs.

Both sides lacked that all-important killer instinct, but Campbell said: “It was a fantastic game for us. We created a lot of chances, played some good balls and found the spaces, and it was pleasing to see the lads’ stamina, particularly in this heat.

“The icing on the cake would have been scoring, as we had some really good opportunities.

“We’ve let ourselves down as we should have really won the game – we just needed a little more composure.

“The character was fantastic and the lads left everything on the pitch, but sometimes you don’t get the rub of the green.

“The main thing is that we didn’t lose, and other results went our way.”

After a 10-minute delay to kick off due to high demands at the ticket office, Newport started the brighter as Mickey Demetriou’s header across goal almost fell for Scot Bennett six-yards out.

The Silkmen wasted a golden chance before the half hour mark. Elliott Durrell pounced on a defensive error, but mis-controlled when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Durrell was the villain yet again 10 minutes later, curling Scott Wilson’s pull-back over the bar.

The best chance of the second-half fell to the Silkmen once again, Smith lashing over from inside the area. Bennett was having equal luck in front of goal at the other end- his bobbling effort was parried away.

Kennedy and Willmott came close for Newport, the latter missing a free header from inside the area but neither side could find a winner in a desperate finish.

In the opposite dugout Mike Flynn also returned home with mixed emotions, as his injury-plagued side showed togetherness but failed to win the game.

He said: “The lads were excellent, I couldn’t praise them enough. We had Regan Poole who wasn’t fit with a swollen foot, Dan Butler has been ill, and Jamille Matt couldn’t play.

“Colchester have gone to Yeovil and drawn; it’s tough. We know what its like from past experience.

“We should have had a penalty. Did that cost us the game? It could have, especially if we had scored it. But I don’t want to be reliant on those decisions as we are better than that.”