MANAGER Michael Flynn can't understand criticism of Newport County AFC edging their way to tense wins, stressing their attacking threat is "chalk and cheese" compared to last season.

The Exiles head to Bradford this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) in second place in the League Two table after responding to a 2-1 loss at leaders Cambridge with 1-0 successes against Tranmere Rovers and Stevenage.

Four of County's five wins have been by a single goal, with a 2-0 victory at Bolton the exception.

They have played some enterprising football in a promising start to the campaign but have also showed defensive steel over the past week to the delight of Flynn.

"It was another clean sheet and I've seen a few moans that we are only winning by one goal, which beggars belief," said the manager, a former midfielder at Bradford.

"I still think that we should score more goals, and I have been critical of that, but what we are doing now is creating a lot more - it's chalk and cheese compared to last season.

"Scott Twine on his own has had over 40 shots and he hasn't even played every game. That's a good sign that we are getting in positions to have shots.

"There have been games when we could have scored a hatful. We didn't but we have won. If our boys are on it then they will be very tough to stop."

County travelled up to Yorkshire on Friday and Flynn has mulled over changing a winning team.

If he doesn't do it at Valley Parade then is likely to do so at Rodney Parade next week.

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"We've got a tough schedule, we had a long trip on Tuesday and a long trip to Bradford. Then we've got two tough home games, Colchester and Harrogate, then Carlisle away," said Flynn.

"It's non-stop, a tough set of fixtures and we want to get through to November in a healthy position.

"It's a tough period but that's why we have got a slightly bigger squad because of the fixtures in the condensed season with a lot of games in a short period of time.

"It will be a very, very tight division this year. We have had a good start but we have a very, very tough six weeks ahead of us.

"We have got to come through it healthy. We've got to get our heads down and play through."

County's recruitment drive has provided Flynn with plenty of options for the challenging schedule with the manager encouraged by a post-Stevenage training session.

"The quality of that session was probably the best that I have had from a non-starting team since I have been here," he said.

"You've got the likes of Scot Bennett, Kevin Ellison, Robbie Willmott, Jamie Proctor, Padraig Amond.

Those players are fighting to get into the team and the standard was really, really high.

"That is so pleasing for me because it shows they are all pulling in the right direction and working as hard as they can to get in the starting XI.

"If it happens that I rest one or two then the others have to make sure they are ready to step in. If they are not then they will get found out.

"We've got a six-week period that will be tough and we have to find the right time to take two or three out and bring the others in. Hopefully they will come in fresh, full of energy and keep us going.

"We've got Jamie Devitt who is proven at this level, we've got Jamie Proctor, Kevin Ellison, Padraig Amond, who can all play up front.

"We've got Robbie Willmott and Scot Bennett in midfield, and if we had to then we could put Matty Dolan in there.

"Ash Baker and Robbie can play on the right, Aaron Lewis and Bradley Webb can go on the left. (Goalkeeper) Tom King is there if needed.

"We have got cover and it is looking a lot better than it ever has."