Flynn: We didn’t deserve it

Newport boss Michael Flynn admitted his side “didn’t really deserve” to beat Carlisle with a stoppage-time goal.

The visitors had looked the most likely team to score all through the game but were beaten by a wonder-strike from substitute George Nurse seconds before the final whistle.

The win moved Newport up into third place and maintained their unbeaten home record in the league this season.

The fourth official had indicated there would be five minutes of added time and Flynn said: “I had 95 minutes, 25 seconds on my watch – it was over.

“It was a nice time to win the game, but we were really poor in the second half and Carlisle were the better team.

“It is bitter-sweet for us because we didn’t really deserve it – a draw would have been a fair result after a poor second half.

“It is harsh on Carlisle and Steve Pressley. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he conducts himself and gets his team playing. It will be hard for them to take, but it is nice to have the three points.

“It is still early days in the league, we are only 12 games in, but the important thing today was keeping the clean sheet. That gave us the platform to go on and win it.

“We were lacking today. We didn’t hold up the ball well enough, which meant we couldn’t squeeze up the pitch and our crossing wasn’t good.

“I went for it and put on an extra attacker and thankfully George Nurse scored his first league goal and it was an absolute screamer.”

Carlisle manager Pressley admitted his players were “devastated” at conceding so late.

“I had 95 minutes and 50 seconds on my watch when he scored the goal. I am devastated for the players,” said Pressley.

“I went on to ask the referee why he played beyond the 95 minutes. I was disappointed he played beyond that period.

“That was our most complete away performance since I’ve been at the club and I thought we were terrific in all aspects. We always looked like the team that was going to score and then to lose to a goal beyond the 95 minutes is devastating.

“They did everything I asked of them bar finishing a couple of good opportunities. The last moment of the game was the only moment that we went back on the first ball.

“It was the only time we did that and it is a lesson for us. To take nothing from a performance like that is hard to take, but we will lick our wounds and go again.

“The good thing is we can take great confidence from that display. To come here and give up virtually no opportunities in the game is a really good sign for us.

“I asked for a certain type of performance and they gave me everything.”