NEWPORT County AFC edged past Accrington Stanley 1-0 at Rodney Parade thanks to Ryan Bird's header on the hour and moved out of the bottom two. Here's what we learned...

1. It's 1-0 to the Exiles

Forget ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ – County have now made the scoreline most closely associated with George Graham’s Gunners of the early 90s their own.

After scoring twice to beat Crewe Alexandra on March 11, Michael Flynn’s team have netted once in each of the following nine games and four out of the last five have ended 1-0 to the Exiles.

As Flynn said afterwards: “I would have liked a few more goals because I’m going greyer by the minute but I’ll take two more 1-0 wins.”

South Wales Argus:

2. Bird ends barren run…we think

Mark Randall celebrated as if it was his goal (above), was announced as the scorer and credited with the goal by the Press Association and the BBC.

But it certainly looked as if Ryan Bird bundled it over the line after Randall’s shot looped off the Stanley goalkeeper.

And Flynn was in no doubt that it was Bird’s goal and hopeful that his first strike since March 14 will provide a major confidence boost for the striker ahead of the final two games.

3. Plymouth forgotten

Flynn described it as a blip and insisted that confidence would not be affected and this was the perfect response to Monday’s 6-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle.

Accrington created plenty of chances in the first half and Joe Day had to be at his best to keep them out but County again showed the defensive resolve that has earned them four clean sheets this month.

The Home Park horror show looks like an aberration and Hartlepool’s 2-0 home defeat to Barnet means that the Exiles are now just one goal worse off and, crucially, two points clear.

4. County in control

For the first time since they won 3-0 at Notts County on November 19, the Exiles are out of the League Two relegation zone and in charge of their own destiny.

Flynn’s men know that if they match or better Hartlepool’s results over the next two weeks they will stay up.

And County could even secure their League Two status next week if they win at Carlisle United and Pools fail to beat Cheltenham Town.

5. Pools sinking fast

Dave Jones’ team are certainly making life easier for County at the moment – losing to bottom club Leyton Orient on Monday and to mid-table Barnet on Saturday.

The fans, including Sky TV’s Soccer Saturday star Jeff Stelling, have turned on Jones and anything less than a win over Cheltenham next week could prove fatal for Pools as they finish at home to champions elect Doncaster Rovers on May 6.