NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn described the 3-0 Leasing.com Trophy win over MK Dons as a “good night” for his side.
First-half goals from Tristan Abrahams and Padraig Amond and a disputed third that Amond is claiming but was officially credited as an own goal from Matthew Sorinola saw County cruise into the Trophy quarter-finals.
They are now just two wins from a Wembley final and the win means they banked another £40,000 in prize money. “I’m delighted that we’ve scored three goals, but we left a few out there on the pitch again,” said Flynn.
“We should have had at least one more, but it’s 3-0 against a strong MK Dons team, it’s money in the bank for the club and we’re into the quarter-finals.
“It’s a good night with a clean sheet as well, and players coming back from injury so we’ve got competition for places.”
Flynn now hopes that his side can carry this form into Saturday’s League Two clash at Scunthorpe United as they aim to end a 10-game winless run in the league.
“There’s not been any confidence issues at all lately, but maybe we’ve just missed that little bit of ruthlessness,” said the Exiles boss, who yesterday signed Northampton Town forward Billy Waters on loan.
“The clean sheet is important too. When we keep a clean sheet, we’ll win the game. We’ll nick a chance.
“When we’re chasing a game is when we struggle a little bit at the minute.
“That’s why I’ve brought Billy in and hopefully there’ll be a few more as well.
“I’m not getting carried away, just because we’ve won,” he added.
“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do, I’m trying to get players in.
“We’ve got Scunthorpe now on Saturday and it’s going to be really tough.
“They’ve picked up a lot and we need to get back to winning ways in the league, it’s as simple as that. But we will pick up [form], I’ve no doubt about that.”
County will find out their quarter-final opponents in the Trophy when the draw is made tomorrow lunchtime.
The competition is not regionalised from the last-eight onwards.
Potential opponents include Portsmouth, Leicester City under-21s, Salford City, Accrington Stanley and Exeter City.
Bristol Rovers take on Stevenage and Scunthorpe United host Manchester City under-21s in the remaining third-round fixtures tonight.
The quarter-finals will be played in the week beginning January 20 so last night’s win means that another new date will have to be found for the Exiles’ league trip to Cheltenham Town.
That match, originally postponed in October due to international call-ups, was provisionally rearranged for January 21 but the Trophy tie will now take precedence.
Read more: Newport County 3 MK Dons 0 - match report from Rodney Parade
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