NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn heaped praise on goalscorer Ade Azeez and strike partner Jamille Matt after Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Carlisle United, writes Andrew Penman.

Azeez marked his home debut with the opening goal on 14 minutes and Padraig Amond doubled County’s lead midway through the second half before Joe Day saved a late penalty.

Flynn was delighted with the impact made by Azeez, who has been hindered by a hamstring injury since his deadline day move from Cambridge United.

“He is going to frustrate the life out of me at times, I know that, but he is so threatening,” said the Exiles boss.

“He is still getting used to us because we haven’t had a chance to train as much as usual because we’ve been playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday.

“It has been tough for him to come in and he has been injured. I was very pleased with him, and it was an outstanding performance from Jamille Matt alongside him.”

Matt didn’t add to his 17 goals for the season, but his hard-working performance was all the more remarkable as it came after a family emergency on Friday night.

“He didn’t sleep because his partner was in hospital,” explained Flynn.

“She’s home now, thankfully, but he didn’t sleep.

“I was thinking about leaving him out, but that shift he put in just shows what kind of person he is. He was superb and we only took him off because he was stiffening up.”

The victory saw County move up to 12th in the League Two table and they are now within five points of seventh-placed Forest Green Rovers with a game in hand.

But Flynn knows is already looking ahead to the testing trips to Colchester United next Saturday and Northampton Town next Tuesday night.

“I am always hopeful [about a play-off place], but we have got to win a couple of games in a row,” he said.

“We have got to back this up now. We’ve got two tough away games – Northampton have hit form and Colchester are good at home.

“If you offered me three points out of six now, I’d probably take it.”

The only negative from the weekend was a first-half injury for Matty Dolan.

“It’s his hamstring again,” said the manager. “The midfield is killing us this season.”