MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 08:12:05| >> :600:1877572:1877572:

Newport boss Michael Flynn vows not to park the bus

Newport boss Michael Flynn vows not to park the bus
© Reuters
The Exiles won the first leg against Forest Green at Rodney Parade.

Newport manager Michael Flynn believes play-off rival Jimmy Ball will regret saying that Forest Green have already planned their Wembley travel.

Flynn's Exiles take a 2-0 lead into their Sky Bet League Two semi-final second leg in Gloucestershire following an impressive display at Rodney Parade on Tuesday.

But Ball, who was last month promoted from academy coach at Rovers to interim manager after Mark Cooper was sacked, said ahead of Sunday's return that Forest Green had already planned their Wembley final travel next week.

"l'd probably say it shows his inexperience as a manager to say that," Flynn said.

"One thing people know about me is that I'm not arrogant and I don't get carried away with things."

Flynn has promised Newport will not sit back on their two-goal lead at the New Lawn.

"One thing I definitely won't be doing is parking the bus," said Flynn, who has captain Joss Labadie available again after injury.

"The pressure's on them to get the next goal. If they don't and we do then that's the tie over.

"I've heard all the talk about a 2-0 lead being a dangerous score. But look at the stats about how many teams come back from that score to win and it's very low.

"It gets emphasised that much more when it does happen, so I'm not buying into the mind games of the 2-0 scoreline.

"That's for the people who want to stir it up and have some hope. But we've kept seven clean sheets out of 10 games, so let's hope we make it eight out of 11."

Ball insists the tie is far from over and wants the returning Forest Green fans to create a "bear pit" atmosphere after the vocal nature of the 900-strong Newport crowd.

He said: "Tuesday was as poor as the lads have been, certainly since I've been in charge.

"But it was one of the best performances I've seen Newport put in. I think it's fair to say that we can't be that bad again, and I hope they're not that good again.

"We have to score three goals, and if they score first, that doesn't change.

"The message is very clear – score three goals and you have a chance of going to the promised land.

"Wembley is the holy grail – no matter where you're from or what age you are. To play on that hallowed turf is a dream."

Morecambe will defend a 2-1 lead in Sunday's other semi-final after their first-leg win at Tranmere on Thursday.

Shrimps boss Derek Adams said: "It was a fantastic result for us, but as we know it's just the first leg and we have another leg to go.

"It's difficult, we have got to get the players prepared for Sunday in a short space of time."

Interim Tranmere manager Ian Dawes said: "The onus is on them now. We know that we have got to win there and take the game to them.

"We have got to make sure that we have that mindset and we've got to manage the next 90 minutes of the game."

ID:448630: cacheID:448630:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4657:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Jay Spearing tips Tranmere Rovers to overcome Morecambe
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barnet22152546252147
2York City22136344202445
3Forest Green RoversForest Green21136239172245
4Gateshead22125541271441
5Oldham AthleticOldham20117236191740
6AltrinchamAltrincham229763628834
7Yeovil TownYeovil2210482723434
8Halifax TownHalifax229762522334
9Rochdale2010372819933
10Solihull MoorsSolihull229583835332
11Sutton UnitedSutton229582927232
12Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool227962424030
13Eastleigh217862928129
14Dagenham & RedbridgeDag & Red217773526928
15Southend UnitedSouthend226972424027
16Tamworth207582334-1126
17Aldershot TownAldershot2257103139-822
18Fylde2264122743-1622
19Woking2256111932-1321
20WealdstoneWealdstone214892432-820
21Braintree TownBraintree2255121931-1220
22Maidenhead UnitedMaidenhead2255122744-1720
23Boston UnitedBoston2236131937-1815
24Ebbsfleet2216151650-349


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!