Michael Flynn: I've loved proving Newport's critics wrong

The Exiles will take on Forest Green Rovers for a shot at glory at Wembley after finishing fifth in the table.

It has been a season to remember for County, who recorded their highest points total since returning to the Football League in 2013.

In knockout competitions they claimed the scalps of Championship duo Swansea and Watford and took Premier League pair Newcastle and Brighton to penalties, boosting the coffers.

Yet they were murmurs of discontent when the Exiles went from setting the pace in League Two to being at risk of dropping into mid-table.

Flynn admits such criticism adds fuel to his fire: “If you’d listened to some supporters I would have been sacked and I was the worst manager around.

“Sometimes I do like that [criticism] because I do enjoy proving people wrong, but we’ve done half a job now and have to keep going.”

08.05.21 - Southend United v Newport County - Sky Bet League 2 - Newport County manager Michael Flynn and goalkeeper Tom King celebrate a 1-1 draw with Southend that means they are in the playoffs

County finished fifth after leading the way in January with Flynn frequently bemoaning their lack of a killer streak in the final third.

“If we were a little bit more clinical we definitely would have been in that top three,” said the manager, who has got his side playing out from the back this season.

“When the Rodney Parade pitch went, it absolutely killed us and stopped our momentum. We lost to of our best players at that point in Scott Twine and Brandon Cooper.

“It was a tough time because we couldn’t work out how to win in the way that we wanted to play.”

County now lock horns with a Forest Green side who have recovered from their own wobble, which led to the sacking of Mark Cooper.

The Gloucestershire side moved a point off then leaders Cambridge when they beat the Exiles 2-0 at Rodney Parade in February.

A slump led to them being outside the play-offs with two games to go but back-to-back wins over Tranmere Rovers and Oldham, plus Salford’s costly loss against Colchester, earned sixth place.

13.04.21 - Newport County v Carlisle United - SkyBet League Two - Newport County Manager Michael Flynn.

"I can't wait to get them at Rodney Parade now. It will be a tough challenge and I was very, very impressed with them earlier in the season," said Flynn.

"Mark Cooper did a very good job there and built a good squad.

"It's going to be tough but it's one that we are looking forward to. It's quite and even tie, may the best team win."

The spoils were shared when the teams met in Nailsworth in December when Tristan Abrahams' penalty was cancelled out by former County striker Jamille Matt's late leveller.

Rovers won 2-0 in Newport courtesy of a first-half goal by Josh Davison and a penalty from Matt, who is currently sidelined after a serious hand injury.