WYCOMBE Wanderers have been working hard this week to make sure they are not taken by surprise at Rodney Parade today (kick-off 3pm), according to boss Gareth Ainsworth.

The Chairboys are well aware of the threats Newport County AFC possess and former Cardiff City midfielder Ainsworth has praised the “great job” done by Exiles chief Michael Flynn.

Like Flynn, Ainsworth has seen the side he manages make a very promising start to the new campaign, with Wycombe picking up 10 points from a possible 15 so far.

County suffered their first defeat of the League Two season at Exeter City last Saturday but return home this afternoon in the hope of getting back on the winning trail.

Speaking about County ahead of the fixture, Ainsworth said: “Newport have had a total facelift.

“Michael Flynn has done a great job there, he has galvanised them from last season and they have carried on the momentum that kept them in the league on the last day.

“They really are a tough team to visit, and in the past we haven’t tended to get a lot from there, apart from the Sido (Jombati) free-kick last year and (Peter) Murphy and (Paris) Cowan-Hall goals in 2014.

“We just need to make sure that this new-look Newport, which I believe is a good side with some characters in their team, don’t catch us by surprise.

“So we’ve been working hard to prepare for what is coming, and what we can do to score against them but also to keep it very tight at the back because they have got goals in their team as they have shown so far this season.”

Scott Kashket, Sam Saunders and Nathan Tyson could be in contention following injuries, while Ebere Eze and Dan Scarr are waiting to make their debuts after being unused substitutes last weekend.

Commenting on his opposite number, Flynn added: “We didn’t take our chances at Exeter but it’s done and dusted now and we’re ready to go again.

“Wycombe will be a different test to Exeter. They are more direct but a good, solid League Two team.

“Gareth has been there for a while now, he’s had a chance to build his team and he’s done a very good job.

“I’ve played against Gareth as a manager and a player.

“He’s somebody who I think has done a very good job and is always there or thereabouts, taking them from the season where they nearly got relegated to getting into the play-offs.

“Gareth needed some time and thankfully he got it, and it’s proving fruitful.

“He has put together a very good League Two team.”

Flynn continued: “We want to win every game but the players are in good spirits and one thing we’ve always done when we’ve lost is bounce back.

“I want to put on a performance and put together a string of results that makes the fans proud and go away happy.

“If we want to make it intimidating we need as many fans there as possible.

“They are loud, they’re antagonizing for the opposition and supportive for our players.

“As long as they see effort and some talent on show the Newport fans are fully behind the team.

“I’ll make sure we are committed and playing some good football.

“We should have more points than we have got but we’ve just got to keep battling.

“Over the course of a season there will probably be games where we don’t deserve anything and we nick it 1-0.

“I just hope that we get the lion’s share of the favourable results rather than the smaller share like we’ve had in recent seasons.”

Wycombe may come too soon for strikers Shawn McCoulsky and Lamar Reynolds, while Marlon Jackson is definitely out through injury, but Joe Quigley is in contention after international duty.