Newport County boss Michael Flynn enjoying the pressure of promotion push

The Exiles avoided relegation two years ago thanks to a last-minute Mark O’Brien winner against the Magpies at Rodney Parade.

This Saturday they go to Morecambe knowing that a win will guarantee them a place in the League Two play-offs.

It’s a different kind of pressure, but Flynn says his side can use their Great Escape experience to their advantage at the Globe Arena.

“It won’t be the same pressure,” said the Exiles boss. “If you can’t enjoy this, I don’t know what you can enjoy.

“I was a lot more nervous two years ago. But we can use what we did back then. It was a fantastic achievement.

“We’re nine unbeaten and we want it to be 10,” he added.

“But I’m not getting carried away. It’s a fantastic run of form that has got us into this position.

“But now it’s a one-off game and we’ve got to be at our best on Saturday.

“I don’t want to be the bride jilted at the altar.”

While careful to avoid complacency, Flynn is certainly confident that his side can get over the line against the Shrimps.

Speaking to the fans after Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic, which moved his side up to seventh in the table, he said: “We’ve got a big job to do and it’s going to be very tough.

“Morecambe are in form but, I don’t know what it is, I think these boys are on a roll.

“That’s nine unbeaten and we’re going to go there full of confidence and give it our best shot.”

A win will definitely see County claim a top-seven spot and a draw will be enough as long as Exeter City don’t win at Forest Green Rovers.

Defeat on the Lancashire coast could see them overtaken by Exeter, Colchester United, Carlisle United and Stevenage.

And Flynn says he will be kept aware of the other scores on Saturday afternoon.

“I’ve got good staff around me who I trust and I’ll let them keep an eye on what’s happening,” he explained.

“But the only real issue is if Exeter are losing and we’re drawing. Anything else, and we’ve got to go for the win.”

County expect to have a sizeable contingent of travelling fans making the long trip to Morecambe and Flynn emphasised how important the amber army will be.

“Your support has been so crucial,” he said in his post-match address to the stands at Rodney Parade on Tuesday.

“You’ve got behind the boys in every single game, even when we lost 6-0 to Yeovil.

“You don’t realise how much it means to the players to have that backing. You are like a 12th man.”

Speaking to the media afterwards, he added: “The fans are very important to us and let’s hope we get a few of them up to Morecambe at the weekend.

“There’ll be a few coaches going and they’ll probably be staying in Blackpool, so half of them won’t make the game!”

Flynn hopes to have midfielders Ben Kennedy and Joss Labadie available for the weekend.

Both missed Tuesday’s win due to injury. Labadie has been sidelined since having 10 stitches in a gashed ankle sustained against Swindon Town on April 9.

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