NEWPORT County AFC bounced back from their 6-0 hammering at home to Yeovil Town with a fantastic 1-0 away win at Tranmere Rovers.

Fraser Franks got the only goal of the game after just five minutes to secure the three points at Prenton Park.

The win, County's third in succession on the road in League Two, means they remain third in the table.

Manager Michael Flynn resisted the urge to make wholesale changes after last week’s horror show but he did shake things up a little.

Mark O’Brien made his first League start of the season in central defence and there were recalls for Tyler Forbes at right wing-back and Antoine Semenyo up front.

Scot Bennett moved into midfield to accommodate O’Brien, while Josh Sheehan and Mark Harris dropped to the bench and David Pipe missed out altogether.

And the Exiles, clad in their lucky black shirts, seemed to pick up exactly where they’d left off at Oldham Athletic in their last league match on the road a fortnight earlier.

The defensive unit, which was all over the place against Yeovil, was tight and disciplined.

There was added protection in midfield with Bennett alongside Matty Dolan.

And Tyreeq Bakinson, Padraig Amond and Semenyo defended from the front as they pressed the home defence high up the pitch.

That approach paid dividends almost straight away as Franks broke the deadlock after just five minutes.

Dan Butler’s lofted ball into the box was headed down by Amond into the path of the central defender, who finished like a striker as he prodded past Scott Davies from around eight yards out.

It could and probably should have been 2-0 six minutes later when a mistake from Manny Monthe let in Semenyo but the striker dragged his shot wide.

And the chances kept coming for County as O’Brien went close with two headers from Dolan corners.

The first was deflected behind and the second was brilliantly tipped over by Davies.

As the first half progressed the hosts started to put some pressure on Day’s goal but he wasn’t forced into a proper save until stoppage time.

Dylan Mottley-Henry volleyed wide after a poor header from Mickey Demetriou and James Norwood chipped over the bar before the break but neither tested the Exiles number one.

South Wales Argus:

After the interval Tranmere continued to push for a way back into the game but it was the visitors who had the better chances.

Dolan curled a free-kick over the bar from 30 yards and Amond’s shot was well saved by Davies after a throughball from Bakinson split the home defence before Butler’s free-kick was hooked over his own bar by Adam Buxton.

There was more late pressure from Tranmere but County held on superbly with Amond tracking back to help out in defence after Day had missed a punch.

The goalkeeper tipped over a dipping shot from substitute Larnell Cole in stoppage time to celebrate his 200th appearance for the club with a much-needed clean sheet.

County: Day; Franks, O’Brien, Demetriou; Forbes, Dolan (Sheehan, 62) Bennett, Butler; Bakinson; Semenyo (Matt, 79), Amond

Subs not used: Townsend, Pring, Cooper, Harris

Booked: Bennett

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 5,745 (298 County)

Argus star man: Franks