NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has banned his players from talking about promotion, despite seeing them move joint top of League Two with a fourth successive win.

County edged out Oldham Athletic 1-0 at Boundary Park thanks to Tyreeq Bakinson’s first goal in professional football midway through the second half.

And they are now level with leaders Lincoln City on 16 points but with only seven games played Flynn is trying to keep everyone’s feet on the ground.

“I’m not mentioning the p-word,” he said. “I’ve told the boys that if anyone mentions that they get fined and that goes for another 39 games!

“I’m not trying to play things down but the table means nothing to me at the moment.

“It’s great that we’ve won a football match and that we’ve got a few points on the board but it’s just a start.”

County had to defend doggedly throughout but Josh Sheehan and Fraser Franks went close in the first half before Bakinson broke the deadlock on 69 minutes.

“It was a great ball from Dan Butler – the pass was a league or two above in quality – and it was a great run from Tyreeq,” said the Exiles boss.

“I’m just glad it wasn’t on his right foot because he probably would have put it over the stadium.

“It was a controlled and very accomplished finish and I’m delighted for him to get off the mark.

“It’s a very tough place to come,” he added. “There won’t be many teams that win here. Oldham are a decent outfit.

“We weren’t at our best in attack but we scored a very good goal and their keeper made two very good saves.

“And we defended like absolute machines. We kept our shape, kept our discipline and nobody dived in.

“They were getting balls into the box but we were exceptionally solid without being great going forward.

“It’s more satisfying [than a big win] because you see that team spirit and the shape that we work on out of possession.

“They’ll cause a lot of teams problems and I’m absolutely delighted to come away with three points.”