MANAGER Michael Flynn believes the travelling fans will have a huge part to play this weekend as Newport County AFC go for glory at Mansfield Town.

After Thursday night’s 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade in the League Two play-off semi-final first leg, County supporters have already snapped up more than 700 tickets for Sunday’s second leg at Field Mill.

Tickets are on sale until 4pm on Saturday at the Kingsway club shop and will also be available on the gate on Sunday.

The Exiles are offering to cover 50 per cent of the cost of supporters’ coach travel, which can be claimed at the club shop until 4pm on Saturday.

Coaches will depart at 11.30am on Sunday ahead of the 6pm kick-off and they'll pick up fans from all normal designated pick-up points, including Castle Bingo at 11.40am and the Royal Oak at 11.50am.

The away allocation for the match is 1,600 tickets and County hope to be cheered on by more than 1,000 as they battle the Stags for place in the final at Wembley.

“The fans were fantastic,” said Flynn after Thursday’s dramatic draw.

“A full house at Rodney Parade is always a good experience and the boys enjoy it.

“And the travelling fans are going to be crucial on Sunday.

“Mansfield only brought 280-odd and I was expecting a full capacity from them, which was about 1,100.

“I’m not sure what went on there, but I’m sure they’ll have a full house at Mansfield.”

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And Flynn is adamant that it is still all to play for, despite his side being held at home.

“I don't think they have an advantage, because all the pressure is on them at home,” said the Exiles boss.

“In an ideal world, we want to be taking a lead to Mansfield, but it’s just 90 minutes of football now and we’re going to give it our best shot.

“We started slowly [on Thursday] but we finished the strongest.

“We were fantastic, like I knew they would be, and that is 11 unbeaten for the boys now. Hopefully we can make it 12.

“We’ll have to pick a team that I think can cause them problems.”

Flynn praised the impact of substitutes Ade Azeez and Joss Labadie, who helped force Padraig Amond’s equaliser at Rodney Parade.

“We had to try to get a goal and get back into the game,” he said.

“I don’t think Ade did as well as the last couple of games when he’s come on, but he won us the penalty with his pace and he just gave them something else to think about.

“It was one of Podge’s quieter games and we moved him back into midfield because he’s a clever footballer. He knows when to track back and what spaces to be in. And we needed a goal so I couldn’t take off my top scorer.”

On Labadie, who had missed the previous six matches with an ankle problem, Flynn added: “I thought he made a big difference when he came on.

“He gives us that little bit of bite in midfield and that impetus to drive forward.

“He might be ready to start. I’ll sit down with the staff and assess everybody and just make sure that we get the best team that we can to go and cause an upset.”

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