NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn was delighted that his defence showed how good they can be to keep a clean sheet and earn all three points at Tranmere Rovers, writes Andrew Penman.

Defender Fraser Franks put County ahead in the fifth minute at Prenton Park and they could have extended their advantage.

But one goal was enough with the Exiles restricting Tranmere to just one shot on target and Joe Day, who was making his 200th appearance for the club, was equal to it in stoppage time.

It was a far cry from last week’s 6-0 home humiliation against Yeovil Town and Flynn took great pride in the defensive display.

“[Tranmere manager] Micky Mellon came up to me and just said ‘well defended’ and I take that as a compliment because we’ve got to do that at times,” said the Exiles boss.

“We don’t expect to go and wipe people off the pitch. We don’t take anything for granted.

“They’re a good team. They’ve got a lot of good players and if we’ve got to defend a 1-0 lead for the last 10 minutes away from home then that’s what we’ll do.

“I think it shows that we can do that and after a 6-0 defeat at home it’s important that we got the clean sheet and got back to winning ways.

“And it’s brilliant for Joe on his 200th appearance. He deserves that and it’s great to see that he’s got what we all wanted for him.”

Flynn handed Mark O’Brien his first start of the season in League Two with Scot Bennet moving into midfield and he admits that he has a selection dilemma at the back now.

“I thought Mark was excellent,” he added. “The three at the back were absolutely immense and it’s nice to see Mark come back in and keep a clean sheet.

“It means there’s competition for places and whoever is not in the team has got to be patient.”

County return to Rodney Parade to take on Chelsea under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy tomorrow night and there will be changes.

Matty Dolan is likely to miss out after being forced off on Saturday but David Pipe will hope to have recovered from the sickness bug that kept him out at Prenton Park.

“Matty hurt his knee and Pipey was ill,” explained Flynn. “That’s why we only had six subs.”