Michael Flynn is demanding an early start from his Newport team when they take on Morecambe to Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm).
The Exiles manager is fed up watching County concede early and having to chase games.
Newport are firmly in the promotion hunt – fourth in League Two and just outside the three automatic places – but Flynn says: “It’s not good enough.”
Former Cardiff City striker Nicky Maynard ford Bury ahead midway through the first half at Gigg Lane this week, the 11th time in 19 fixtures that County have seen opponents score first this season.
Another damning statistic records that Newport have conceded 12 goals inside the first half hour of matches.
“That is simply not good enough and not something I want to continue,” says Flynn. “It’s down to the players.
“When they cross that white line, they have to keep the opposition out. Almost 50 per cent of the goals conceded are in the first 30 minutes so it’s a bit frustrating.”
Flynn is happy that his County team hit back with plenty of character, earning 10 points from losing positions, but says: “It’s a bit frustrating because it’s giving teams a head start and that goal gives them the impetus to attack more and have that bit more confidence.
“On the positives, it goes to show how well we’re doing when we’re giving teams those starts and the confidence boost, yet still coming back and winning or drawing most of them.”
Newport will be without midfield player Joss Labadie and suspended Fraser Franks against Morecambe. Labadie is still ‘two or three’ weeks away from full fitness.
Matty Dolan, Tyreeq Bakinson, and Keanu Marsh-Brown are close to being ready and Dolan may well slot into the starting line-up.
Andrew Crofts is also making good progress, but hasn’t played since August and won’t be thrown straight back in even if he is thought to be physically fit.
Flynn would not be drawn on who might be back, saying: “You’ll find out exactly who’s back tomorrow. Robbie Willmott is fine, I’ll say that, but the rest can be found out tomorrow.”
Morecambe are 20th in League Two, only just outside the relegation places, and have earned only four wins in their last 15 matches.
Newport, though, have never beaten the Shrimps in South Wales and defender David Pipe said: “They are quite similar to us in that they’ve got a lot of individuals who know exactly how to win football matches.
“They can go away from home and grind out results, be horrible and won’t be an easy rollover.
“We’ve got to turn up, be on our game and hopefully we can turn a point at Bury into four points from two games.”
Veteran striker Kevin Ellison, aged 39, has scored five goals against the Exiles and two of those came in last season’s 2-1 win at the Globe Arena. He has also won three penalties against County.
Liverpool-born Ellison, who started his playing career with Conwy United in 1998, knows Pipe really well. The pair have played against each other 20 times.
“He’s a taller version of myself,” said Pipe. “He’s a bit of a pest on the pitch, a highly effective player and full credit to him for doing what he’s doing at his age.
“He’s a bit like myself where you keep defying people, keep going and going. That’s not easy to do as a professional.
“Credit to him and I’ll be trying to wind him up as much as he’ll try to wind us up – don’t worry about that.”
Team, Newport County, possible (4-1-2-3): Day, Butler, Demetriou (capt), O’Brien, Pipe, Forbes, Bennett, Dolan, Willmott, Amond, Matt.
Morecambe had added a new signing to their squad and he is eligible to face Newport today.
Florent Cuvelier has joined on a three month deal until January 25, a central midfielder with experience at Championship and League One level with clubs including Stoke City, Walsall, Peterborough United, Sheffield United, Port Vale and Burton Albion.
“I was at Walsall for the last two years, but released at the end of last season. I found myself in a position where the season started in August and I was without a club, which as a professional footballer was difficult and it was the first time something like that had happened to me so it put a lot of things into perspective.
“I was with Scunthorpe during the majority of pre season and I was confident I was going to sign there but in the end it didn’t happen.”
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League Two
Current table
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Lincoln | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +17 | 33 |
| 2 | MK Dons | 15 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +10 | 30 |
| 3 | Exeter | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +12 | 29 |
| 4 | Newport Co | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 28 |
| 5 | Colchester | 15 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 10 | +13 | 25 |
| 6 | Forest Green | 15 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +9 | 24 |
| 7 | Tranmere | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 13 | +3 | 24 |
| 8 | Bury | 15 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | +8 | 23 |
| 9 | Crawley | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | +3 | 23 |
| 10 | Stevenage | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | +2 | 22 |
| 11 | Mansfield | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | +8 | 20 |
| 12 | Oldham | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 20 |
| 13 | Carlisle | 15 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | -3 | 20 |
| 14 | Yeovil | 14 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 7 | +5 | 18 |
| 15 | Swindon | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -3 | 18 |
| 16 | Port Vale | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -5 | 18 |
| 17 | Crewe | 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 16 |
| 18 | Northampton | 15 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -4 | 15 |
| 19 | Grimsby | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -8 | 15 |
| 20 | Morecambe | 15 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 15 | -13 | 13 |
| 21 | Cambridge U | 15 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 15 | -13 | 12 |
| 22 | Notts Co | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 20 | -15 | 12 |
| 23 | Cheltenham | 14 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -11 | 10 |
| 24 | Macclesfield | 15 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | -17 | 7 |