Crawley Town 1, Newport County 2

‘Deadly’ Demetriou’s double led Newport County to victory in West Sussex – after he felt the heat of manager Michael Flynn’s hair-dryer treatment at half-time.

Mickey Demetrio scored both Newport goals from headers and Flynn said: “I gave Mickey a rocket at half-time because it was his man who scored (for Crawley) and he had a free header just before that.

“Mickey is one of those that you need to keep on top of, but when he’s on his game he’s probably one of the best defenders in the league.

“And he’s deadly on set-plays, not just headers but free-kicks and penalties as well.

“He’s a real handful and he’s come up with two crucial goals that keeps the momentum going.”

County are now seventh seventh in League Two, level on points with fifth-placed Luton Town, the team they visit at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

Mark Connolly began the header trend as he opened the scoring on the half hour for Crawley after losing marker Demetriou, who made it 1-1 before half-time from Sean Rigg’s corner.

It was Demetrio again in the second half, securing victory with a winner on 51 minutes.

This is Newport’s fifth win of the season and it lifted them into seventh place, while Harry Kewell’s Crawley dropped two places to 19th.

“It was a hard battle and a pleasing win because Crawley started better than us, if I’m honest,” said Flynn.

“They looked to play football, while we didn’t string two passes together at the beginning and we went 1-0 down.

“But the boys responded like they have done 99 per cent of the time.

“They’ve been outstanding and they’re showing how much they’re fighting for the shirt.”

Mark O’Brien and David Pipe are both doubtful for the Luton match after suffering injuries at Crawley.

Newport County: Day; Pipe (Bennett 62), O’Brien (Butler 46) Demetriou, White; Willmott, Labadie, Tozer, Rigg; Nouble, Amond (Dolan 90). Subs not used: Bittner, Reynolds, McCoulsky, Quigley.

Attendance: 1,455.