MICHAEL Flynn admitted that Dino Maamria’s Stevenage looked more motivated than his own side as Newport County AFC slipped to another disappointing defeat at Rodney Parade.

Chris Whelpdale scored the only goal of the game three minutes before the interval to earn the visitors all three points.

And Flynn conceded that Maamria’s men deserved the win.

“We lost that game with our first-half performance,” said the Exiles boss.

“We could have closed the gap on the play-offs to eight points so I don’t understand why our season seems to be fizzling out.

“It’s even more frustrating seeing the table, but I’ve given them a rude awakening.

“It was a terrible goal to concede, a free header in the box. I wish we’d had one of those, though we probably would have missed it.

“They wanted it more, they won more challenges and they looked stronger than us.

“We just played against a team with nothing to play for and they looked more up for it.

“It was a completely different performance to the one against Coventry.

“We could still be out there now and not have scored.”

Defeat leaves County in 13th place in League Two – 11 points below the top seven with only six games remaining.

“The play-offs look improbable but we have to keep battling,” said Flynn.

“A few of them in there are out of contact and you’re only as good as your last game is the famous old saying. It gives me food for thought.

“I’ve just got to get back to picking our best team and get our most reliable players back on the pitch.

“We had a few missing but the boys on the pitch should have done better and I take responsibility for that.”