The talking points from Newport's League Two win at Bradford

The Exiles struck twice in the first half to take command in Yorkshire, Mickey Demetriou slamming home after just 41 seconds and then Padraig Amond calmly finishing shortly after coming off the bench just before the break.

County could have stretched further ahead in the second half but Matty Dolan scored the third from the penalty spot in injury time after Scott Twine was brought down.

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• Match report from Valley Parade
• Michael Flynn's post-match reaction

Cambridge’s draw meant that the Exiles, who have made their best start to an EFL campaign, moved from second in the table to first.

Here are the talking points from Valley Parade…

OPENER: Mickey Demetriou's super strike put County in front

SUPER START

County have 19 points from eight games with six wins, a draw and a narrow loss at fellow high-flyers Cambridge United. They also enjoyed a terrific Carabao Cup run that boosted the coffers thanks to the TV game against Newcastle United.

Manager Michael Flynn has stressed for the past few weeks that it’s a good start but it’s just that, a start.

He’s right and teams need to get to double figures of games played before things really take shape – the first round of the FA Cup a week on Saturday provides the first chance to really take stock of the league campaign.

County have been fantastic and will be keen to finish off this first batch of League Two games strongly when they host Colchester and Harrogate before the long trip to Carlisle.

It’s too early to judge those at the top and the same applies at the other end, but it is worth pointing out that seven of County’s opponents so far are currently in the bottom half of the table.

The next three are sixth, seventh and ninth, so have made promising starts themselves and will be tough tests for an Exiles side that have got everyone’s attention.

DEPENDABLE DOLAN

New signings Liam Shephard and Scott Twine, playmaker Josh Sheehan, wing-back Ryan Haynes and forward Tristan Abrahams have all made excellent starts to the season but arguably the pick of County’s squad so far is Matty Dolan.

The move to the centre of defence has been inspired with the 27-year-old talking loudly, organising and taking command. Not only that but he has the ability to bring the ball out and spark attacks, plus he can share set piece duties with Twine.

Dolan has formed a strong partnership with Brandon Cooper and Demetriou in front of goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

It’s now three clean sheets on the spin and 299 minutes, almost five hours, since the Exiles conceded at Cambridge.

SLIDING IN... Padraig Amond celebrates with Michael Flynn

PERFECT TIMING

Padraig Amond would have sat, socially distanced, in the stand until warming up in the rain at half-time were it not for Saikou Janneh’s injury.

The Irishman was called into action earlier than planned and the timing couldn’t have been better; County wouldn’t have wanted the 44th-minute chance to fall to anyone else.

Tristan Abrahams’ hold-up play was terrific and Amond’s finish was composed. Fingers crossed it sparks a streak for the Exiles’ top scorer for the last three seasons.

Amond has had to be patient so far this season but remains a key figure for manager Michael Flynn.

“He is a fantastic professional and did very well when he came on. I said to him at half-time that that is the importance of a squad and a group sticking together,” said the boss after the game.

Liam Shephard fires in a shot

DIFFERENT METHODS

County have shown different ways to take the spoils in these opening months of the campaign.

Recently they rolled up their sleeves against Tranmere and Stevenage and against Bradford they got in front and then picked off the Bantams.

The start was perfect and then Amond’s second provided a buffer that allowed them to use a counter-attacking game.

Match stats show that County had 36 per cent possession but this wasn’t a case of Bradford stretching them, shifting play and constantly asking questions.

The stats do, however, give an insight into how the Exiles played against an increasing open Bantams team.

They should have put the game to bed with a number of raids in the second half before the penalty from Dolan in injury time but were denied through a combination of good stops by Richard O’Donnell, wrong choices, poor execution or desperate defending.

County looked dangerous on the counter and with the likes of Twine, Sheehan and their forwards, you’d like to think that they would be able to chase a game if the shoe was on the other foot with dominance of possession.