Flynn: That fightback could turn our season

MIKE Flynn hopes Newport’s success at ten-man Scunthorpe can be a turning point after struggling to match expectations on the back of reaching the play-off final last season.

Two goals in four second-half minutes from substitute Jamille Matt and Padraig Amond saw the Exiles end a tenmatch winless run, having gone behind to an Abo Eisa goal.

Lee Novak saw red for the hosts just after the visitors had restored parity.

“We were six points behind where we were at the same stage last season and we’ve played two less games,” said Flynn.

“We ended up getting to the play-off final, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

“Yes expectations have been raised and it’s not good when you go ten games without a win in the league, but I think we’ve answered a lot of our critics today.”

Chances were at a premium at both ends during the opening 45 minutes, with Eisa – who had earlier been denied by Newport keeper Tom King after getting in behind the visiting defence – producing the only real moment of quality when he found the bottom corner from just outside the box.

Having struggled as an attacking force, despite having a blustery wind at their backs in the first half, Newport improved after the break, with Amond unlucky to see an effort cleared off the line by Harrison McGahey.

They levelled, though, in the 72nd minute when home goalkeeper Rory Watson could only parry a powerful strike by Tristan Abrahams and Matt followed up to finish from close.

Scunthorpe’s afternoon went from bad to worse in the space of 60 seconds when Novak was sent off for a clash with Exiles centre-back Ryan Inniss and then Amond hooked the visitors in front when the ball was swung into the box from the resulting free-kick.

Scunthorpe boss Paul Hurst said: “It was a tough day. Newport play a certain way, but I thought we stood up to that well in the first half, in difficult conditions.

“In the second half they put us under pressure, which frustrated me because we had the wind. I’m not convinced about the sending off and conceding almost straight away made it difficult for us.

“There was a lot of ‘game management’ after that and that’s where you need the referee to intervene.”