Michael Flynn wants his Newport County players to keep expressing themselves in their quest for League Two success.
The Exiles stunned unbeaten Forest Green Rovers at their New Lawn home stadium with an equaliser which involved 35 touches and 15 completed passes before Padraig Amond netted.
County, who are at home against Stevenage on Saturday, earned a 1-1 draw and Flynn said: “I have to give the players full credit because they had the confidence and guts to go and do it in a match.
“We practise all week like that in training, but if they don’t go out and do it on a Saturday it makes the week a bit of a waste.
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“They are going out and expressing themselves. I couldn’t be happier.”
Flynn’s team are unbeaten in five matches – three wins and two draws – and are third in the League Two table, three points ahead of their visitors.
Former Newport assistant manager Dino Maamria is in charge of Stevenage and he has a fully fit squad to select from after making nine changes to his team for their midweek Checkatrade Trophy fixture against Charlton Athletic.
Maamria’s decision was far from a total success because the young team he sent out were defeated 8-0, but it’s certain he will revert to a full strength line-up.
“I’ll take it as a compliment that he felt he needed to rest that many players for Saturday, but that also says it will be a tough game,” said Flynn.
“Stevenage will be up for it, they are doing well, and I know that Dino [Maamria’s] team will be strong.
“Watching our boys in training and seeing how focused they are, I know we’ll be up for it as well.
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“They are all tough games in League Two, but I’m sure Dino will have them up for it on the weekend.”
Midfield player Matty Dolan is likely to return for Newport after recovering from a knee injury. He was an unused substitute at Forest Green and Flynn says: “Matty is back. He was on the bench at Forest Green because it was too early to start him.
“He’s in contention (v Stevenage), which is good news.”
Charlie Cooper, on loan from Forest Green and also a midfield player, is available again having been ineligible to face his parent club last weekend.
County have earned only one win against Stevenage in the last eight matches between the clubs and Flynn will demand a big performance from his team.
Sixth-placed Boro have earned three wins from their last five league matches and Daamria says: “Newport is our focus. This defeat (v Charlton) will not affect out momentum. Absolutely not.”
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Other League Two fixtures this weekend (All 3pm Saturday unless stated)
Tranmere Rovers vs Macclesfield Town (7:45pm – Friday)
Mansfield Town vs Grimsby Town (1pm Saturday)
Northampton Town vs Forest Green Rovers (2pm Saturday)
Cambridge United vs MK Dons
Carlisle United vs Morecambe
Cheltenham Town p-p Yeovil Town (Match postponed due to international call-ups for the Glovers)
Colchester United vs Crawley Town
Crewe Alexandra vs Bury FC
Exeter City vs Swindon Town
Notts County p-p Oldham Athletic (Match postponed due to international call-ups for the Latics)
Port Vale vs Lincoln City
League Two table
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Lincoln | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +13 | 28 |
| 2 | Exeter | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +10 | 24 |
| 3 | Newport Co | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | -1 | 24 |
| 4 | Tranmere | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 10 | +5 | 23 |
| 5 | MK Dons | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +7 | 21 |
| 6 | Stevenage | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | +4 | 21 |
| 7 | Forest Green | 12 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +8 | 20 |
| 8 | Colchester | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 9 | +11 | 19 |
| 9 | Crawley | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | +2 | 19 |
| 10 | Carlisle | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| 11 | Bury | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | +4 | 18 |
| 12 | Oldham | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +4 | 17 |
| 13 | Swindon | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | +1 | 17 |
| 14 | Mansfield | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | +7 | 16 |
| 15 | Yeovil | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 7 | +5 | 16 |
| 16 | Port Vale | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -2 | 14 |
| 17 | Notts Co | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 14 | -10 | 12 |
| 18 | Crewe | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 11 | -1 | 11 |
| 19 | Grimsby | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -9 | 11 |
| 20 | Morecambe | 12 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -13 | 10 |
| 21 | Cheltenham | 12 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -9 | 9 |
| 22 | Northampton | 12 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -9 | 9 |
| 23 | Cambridge U | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 14 | -14 | 8 |
| 24 | Macclesfield | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | -13 | 4 |