NEWPORT County AFC were outplayed by Crawley Town at the Checkatrade.com Stadium, conceding three unanswered goals after Jamille Matt had cancelled out a first-minute opener for the hosts. Here are the talking points...

When it goes wrong, it really goes wrong

County have enjoyed a superb start to the season, stringing together impressive results for weeks on end, but when they have an off day they do it in style.

After a 3-0 opening day defeat at Mansfield Town, Michael Flynn’s men won five and drew one in their next six league games.

And after that shock 6-0 trouncing by Yeovil Town, they won three and drew two in the next five.

The Exiles need to do the same again and put another miserable afternoon behind them by bouncing back quickly and putting together another unbeaten run.

More strength in depth needed

The manager was reluctant to use injuries as an excuse for a sub-par performance but the fact that seven players were unavailable certainly played a part yesterday.

Flynn was without five midfielders and was even forced to name himself on the bench alongside two teenagers, which highlights the lack of depth in the squad.

He admitted after the match: “There were one or two [players] I needed to step up today and they weren't good enough.”

Indiscipline proves costly again

Just like Robbie Willmott’s red card against Yeovil, Fraser Franks’ sending off at the Checkatrade.com Stadium did not affect the result.

But he now faces a three-game ban and, with the squad already stretched to the limit, that is something County could definitely do without.

Flynn hinted that the club could appeal the referee’s decision and there was a sense that the home fans’ reaction may have influenced the referee, but it was a needlessly reckless challenge near the halfway line that was asking for trouble.

County must do more to cut out crosses

It was an issue for Stevenage’s equaliser at Rodney Parade last week and Crawley’s first and third goals both came from crosses that could have been blocked at source.

Dan Butler backed off Lewis Young in the first minute, allowing him to pick out Joe Maguire for the first goal and Scot Bennett didn’t do enough to prevent the ball finding Ollie Palmer’s head for the third.

The defending in the middle also left a lot to be desired but County have to do everything they can to stop easy balls into their box.

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Jamille Matt continues his hot streak

What looked at the time (and from the other end of the stadium) to be a deflected strike was actually a brilliantly taken goal.

The striker collected Antoine Semenyo’s flick-on and beat his man with a delightful touch before dispatching the ball confidently past Glenn Morris in the Crawley goal.

It was one bright moment on a grim afternoon for the visitors and took Matt’s goal tally to an impressive eight in 17 games in all competitions so far.

That is his best return since netting 10 times for Fleetwood Town in the 2013-2014 season and Flynn will hope that the hip flexor problem that forced him off yesterday clears up in time for Tuesday’s trip to Bury.