NEWPORT County AFC and Notts County shared the points after a stalemate at Rodney Parade. Here's what we learned...
1. No refund required this time
The players decided to reimburse the fans for their travelling costs after Tuesday’s 5-0 drubbing at Mansfield Town but there was no need for such a gesture after yesterday’s performance.
Some supporters may have felt short-changed due to the lack of entertainment value but there was no doubting the commitment of those in amber on Saturday and the manager was delighted with the way they reacted to their midweek mauling.
2. O’Brien’s return made the difference
Flynn made three changes to the starting XI and the most significant was the return of Mark O’Brien as part of a back three alongside Mickey Demetriou and Ben White.
After conceding 10 goals in their last three games in League Two, County looked far more solid at the back and kept their first clean sheet since before Christmas.
3. The Exiles are struggling to create chances
While he was pleased with the improvement in defence, Flynn acknowledged that the switch to three at the back meant his side were less of a threat going forward.
Robbie Willmott and Joss Labadie did their best to support the front two but Padraig Amond and Shawn McCoulsky (above) were starved of service and struggled to make any impact on the match.
J4. ackson showed he can make his mark
After a 45-minute return to action at Mansfield last week, Marlon Jackson was handed another chance to impress in the final 25 minutes and he did enough to suggest he does have a part to play in the run-in.
The much-maligned striker won more than his fair share of high balls and nearly created a winner for Joss Labadie with some cleverly directed headers but he knows he still has a long way to go before he can silence his critics.
5. Labadie will miss the next two games
The skipper has been walking a disciplinary tightrope for the past three weeks and he finally picked up his 10th yellow card of the season yesterday to earn a two-game ban.
Labadie will miss the trip to Port Vale next Saturday and the home clash with Accrington Stanley a week later and he will leave a hole that cannot be filled by a like-for-like replacement.
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