Michael Flynn said his Newport side’s defeat to Salford City was ‘not good enough’ and a ‘reality check’

by Tom Young

NEWPORT County manager Michael Flynn blasted his side’s set piece defending following a 2-1 defeat to Salford City at Rodney Parade.

He also questioned substitute Tristan Abrahams penalty technique as the Exiles suffered their first league loss at home since February.

“We lost the game to two set plays, its not good enough. We work on them, showed them, done everything bar mark them for them,” he said.

‘It’s two really cheap goals, Ryan Inniss gets done too easily and Matty Dolan. Not good enough.’

Newport have one of the best defensive records in the division – only table topping Forest Green have conceded fewer – Flynn was disappointed at the poor defending which lead to Salford’s two goals.

“We knew. We knew what they were good at. We knew that they cause a problem on set plays. But we caused our own problems because we haven’t even got near them. It’s two free headers and it’s not good enough.”

Flynn believes that his side were the better of the two through the 90 minutes and was left to rue a number of missed opportunities. He also admitted he has a decision to make on whether Tristan Abrahams remains the club’s first choice penalty taker.

“We were the better team. We should’ve scored four. You look at the chance Podge (Padraig Amod) misses, (Josh) Sheehan should’ve scored when he’s hit the inside of the post and Tristan (Abrahams), I don’t know what he’s doing with the penalty.”

“I’m all for somebody taking a penalty and missing, I don’t mind that. But not when they go down the middle, it don’t sit right with me. I’ll have to have a think.”

The Exiles were on top in the lead up to the penalty, with Sheehan striking the outside of the post just moments prior and Flynn believed that his side would have gone on to win the game if Abrahams had converted from the spot.

“We go on and win the game then, that’s what we do.

“But look its easy to say he puts it down the middle and he scores and everyone says he’s done the right thing but no.

“His other three penalties he’s put them right in the corner. Put it this way in all my career I never put one down the middle.”

It’s a second defeat in a row now for Newport, who fall to seventh place in League Two and Flynn is hoping that the defeats will bring his side back down to earth.

“Yeah listen it’s a reality check for them. A couple of them getting carried away and maybe thinking they’re better than what they are. No chance. League Two will bite you right in the backside and that’s exactly what it’s just done.”