Alex Fisher fires Newport County to win at Tranmere

Striker Alex Fisher reaped the rewards of a never-say-die attitude in the 60th minute to score his first Exiles goal on his full debut.

Tranmere had conceded for the first time in the league this season and couldn’t respond, with Flynn joining in with those cheering back home after a determined defensive display.

The Exiles were without the boss at Prenton Park after he tested positive for coronavirus, meaning he will also miss the Carabao Cup clash with Premier League Southampton and next weekend’s trip to Salford City.

That meant his assistant Wayne Hatswell, who led the final preparations on Friday afternoon, called the shots from the dugout.

His experience, and the help of his fellow coaches, meant that County had no excuses against a strong, disciplined Tranmere side that are likely to be in the mix for promotion.

The Exiles are spending August on the road in League Two and started with a late win at Oldham before being edged out at Mansfield.

Their performances had been solid and steady with a new-look team gelling after May’s play-off final woe.

This was another good display as Flynn and his coaches look for the right formula, something they are doing while putting away points on the board.

The defensive display after Fisher’s strike was superb with James Clarke the pick of the bunch, ensuring three points didn’t turn into one late on with a committed block of a Callum McManaman shot.

Priestley Farquharson in action for County

Flynn wasn’t the only absentee with the Exiles still without influential defenders Matty Dolan and Mickey Demetriou, although Dolan is close to a return after going through a fitness session before the game.

Jermaine Hylton returned after suffering a niggle on opening day at Oldham and he was in support of striker Alex Fisher, who made his first start for the club after a debut at Mansfield.

County were up against a former favourite with Conference South winner Sam Foley starting in the Rovers midfield after his summer arrival from Motherwell.

The Exiles sprang something of a surprise by starting with captain Scot Bennett in midfield after he performed strongly at the heart of a three-man defence at Mansfield.

They went with a flat back four while Robbie Willmott, Finn Azaz and Hylton were all able to play with an element of freedom from midfield thanks to the sitting Ed Upson.

It was an even start to the game in the rain with the first attempt on goal a drive from County right-back Cameron Norman that went into the side-netting of Joe Murphy, on his 40th birthday.

The first save came after 15 minutes and it was County’s Joe Day that was called into action after his midfield allowed Paul Glatzel to turn and shoot from distance, the keeper wisely opting to slap the ball out in slippery conditions.

The stopper was at fault for Mansfield’s opener seven days earlier but produced a stunning save to ensure it remained goalless in the 23rd minute.

Foley was given too much space to drive from halfway and Priestley Farquharson stuck out a leg to deal with his whipped cross from the right. The ball was looping in but Day reached up to tip over right-handed.

He should have been picking the ball out of the net after 34 minutes when Liam Feeney countered down the left and pulled the ball back for Glatzel, who sliced to the right of the goal from around the penalty spot.

It was tight but Tranmere were asking questions of Day while County had failed to make Murphy work.

That changed towards the break when Hylton’s curling, if weak, effort was palmed away and then Fisher hit the bar with a right-footed volley on the turn from Farquharson’s nod-back.

The striker had the final chance of the half when he forced Murphy into a scrambling stop when Willmott played a disguised cross rather than taking on the shot.

It was goalless at the break but there had been no shortage of entertainment.

Both teams knew how important the first goal could be and Rovers brought on Callum McManaman to hunt it after 55 minutes.

The Exiles had some pressure down the other end through set pieces but their hosts, with experienced central defender Peter Clarke in command, dealt with the balls into the box.

That was until approaching the hour when Fisher didn’t dwell on the disappointment of hitting the underside of the bar with a superb header, battling for the ball in the box before scrambling in.

That was his last act of a terrific full debut with the Exiles opting to bring on the energy of Timmy Abraham up front.

Tranmere had been stung into action and Day had saved well down to his right from Elliott Nevitt’s well-directed header.

However, County played with maturity and had a spell of pressure in the Rovers’ third. They didn’t threaten dramatically but they took the sting out of any response from the hosts.

It remained 1-0 and it was close to being level after 75 minutes when McManaman checked onto his left and put in a dangerous cross that just eluded his fellow attackers and well all the way through for a goal kick.

Hatswell responded to Rovers pressure by bringing on the experience of Scouser Kevin Ellison for Hylton with 10 minutes to go.

Influential striker Elliott Nevitt headed a corner over with six minutes to go with County then making their final change, Chris Missilou adding more protection for the impressive Azaz.

County were happy to hold what they had with Bennett dropping back in a five-man defence.

Tranmere launched balls into the box but the Exiles held firm to put a smile on their boss’ face.

Tranmere: Murphy, Dacres-Cogley, Knight-Percival, Davies, Morris, Spearing, Feeney, Glatzel, Foley, Nevitt, Clarke (captain).
Subs: Doohan, Merrie, Dieseruvwe, Watson, McManaman, Maguire, Hayde.
Yellow: Clarke.

County: Day, Norman, Farquharson, Clarke, Haynes, Upson, Bennett (captain), Azaz (Missilou 85), Willmott, Hylton (Ellison 79), Fisher (Abraham 63).
Subs not used: Townsend, Lewis, Greenidge.
Yellow: Upson

Referee: Robert Lewis