NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admits his side need to learn quickly from their mistakes after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Carlisle United that he saw as two points dropped rather than one point gained.

Flynn was proud of the character County showed to fight back from 2-1 and 3-2 down, thanks to two stunning free-kicks from Matty Dolan, and pleased with their overall performance.

But he was disappointed by the manner of the goals they conceded and frustrated that they couldn’t find a winner in the closing stages.

“I’m really frustrated; it’s two points dropped,” said the Exiles boss, who had seen Shawn McCoulsky give the hosts a 1-0 half-time lead.

“It was sloppy defending after the break. There was a communication problem between the goalkeeper and the defenders from a long throw.

“And if that wasn’t bad enough we went and did the same thing again.

“For the third one it was one of our strikers who switched off. He didn’t follow the defender back and if you don’t do the jobs that we tell you to do then you tend to get punished.

“It’s harsh because I thought we were very good but let’s hope it’s a rude awakening and they learn quickly from it.

“There’s a lot of things that went on – they were three cheap goals and I just hope I don’t see any more of it because it wasn’t good enough.

“But the boys played really well and the fighting spirit they showed is a lot more positive than the negatives that happened.”

One big positive was Dolan’s performance in the heart of midfield and the two free-kicks that he bent past Carlisle goalkeeper Jack Bonham and inside the post.

“That’s what I want him to do,” added Flynn.

“He’s got an absolute wand of a left foot but I thought he was tremendous all game.

“Forget the free-kicks, he kept the ball moving, he made the right passes, he kept the ball, he looked forward.

“He was excellent and that’s the Matty Dolan that we need to see every week.”

County could have won it late on as Frank Nouble, Joss Labadie and Dan Butler all went close.

The draw meant they dropped to 12th in the League Two table but they are now just one point below Coventry City in seventh.

“It’s quite a strange day because we’ve dropped three places but we’ve gained a point,” said Flynn, who was without Ben Tozer due to illness.

“We’re only a point off the play-offs so that shows you how tight the league is.”

The manager added: “I’m really pleased with the performance but you have to stay focused for 95 minutes these days.

“Unfortunately we weren’t and that’s what cost us but there are going to be games where our defence keep us in it and the strikers will falter.

“We’re a team; we win together and we lose together and that’s Newport County.”