Michael Flynn concerned by Newport form after Oldham defeat

Posted Sunday, November 24, 2019 by PA

Michael Flynn admits Newport are low on confidence ahead of their FA Cup tie at non-league Maldon and Tiptree after losing three league games in a row for the first time since December 2018.

County head to the Wallace Binder Ground on Friday for a second-round tie.

And a 1-0 home defeat to struggling Oldham was not the sort of dress-rehearsal Flynn was looking for ahead of next week’s potential banana skin in the cup.

“We didn’t do enough today. It was poor; we had players kicking the ball out of play, people missing tackles, shooting when they should have crossed, crosses hitting the front man,” said Flynn.

“It’s a problem. It’s a bunch of players who look low on confidence. Can one or two handle the expectation levels? I’m not sure.

“I tried to be positive but we were poor and I’ve got to take responsibility for that as well. We were very poor – I thought it was two poor teams, but they got the goal and we didn’t look like scoring.

“I don’t know why, if I’m honest. We haven’t been cut open, but we’re just switching off and we’re not looking positive going forward.

“It’s not good enough – too many balls wasted, too many crosses hitting the front man. We’ve got work to do, but it’s nothing that we haven’t been through before.”

It was a great win for Oldham, who arrived in 22nd place, and picked up their first away win in League Two since August 24.

Manager Dino Maamria particularity enjoyed the game having previously worked as an assistant to Graham Westley at Rodney Parade.

“It was a fantastic performance, a brilliant win and we needed it,” he said.

“There has been improvement over the weeks, but to come here and play like that against a team that is well known for their ferocity at home is great.

“We are still a work in progress, but that was more like the team I am trying to build at Oldham. They showed resilience and desire. We dealt well with the long balls and when we got the ball we played a bit.

“I am so delighted for the 300 fans who travelled and we have dedicated the win to them. We used last week’s rest the right way and we worked on a different shape. It fitted us well and we dealt with them with ease.

“In the second half I don’t think they got in our box once. The application of the lads was very pleasing and we were doing so well as a team I didn’t want to change it and bring on any substitutes.

“We defended as a team, we got after them as a team, we pressed them high, we rushed their clearances and we made them predictable. We limited them. I don’t think many team will come to Newport and produce a performance like that.”