Michael Flynn believes Newport County's bad run is over after win over Exeter City

Jamille Matt’s 15th goal of the season was enough to earn all three points at Rodney Parade.

The victory was County’s first in League Two since November and ended a run of five defeats in their last six league games.

Flynn’s men remain 13th in the table but they are now just five points below the play-off places ahead of next week’s FA Cup trip to Middlesbrough.

“I’m not even thinking about the play-offs, I’m just thinking about winning games,” said the Exiles boss.

“I said it at the beginning of the season – we’re going to have good times and we’re going to have bad times.

“You find out who is really going to support you in the bad times and the fans have.

“Everybody gets disappointed when results aren’t going our way but you have to remember where we’ve come from and what we’re doing and how good things have been for Newport County.

“I was due a sticky period, but it’s done and out of the way now.

“And if we had managed to convert the chances that we had in our previous three games we would have had an extra eight points.

“I don’t want to be the doom-monger but that’s what frustrates me,” he added.

“We defended so well this week and if we’d done that last week [at Crewe Alexandra], we’d have been a lot better off and had another three points.”

County were without centre-back Fraser Franks after he picked up an injury at Crewe but new loan signing Regan Poole impressed in his place.

“Fraser’s done his ankle ligaments,” said Flynn.

“It’s not good but I don’t know how bad it is. He might be alright for next week but it might be a five-week job. I don’t know, but it’s not great.

“He should have cleared the ball [at the end] last week and instead injured himself so it was a double whammy.

“All he had to do was head it out for a corner and he would have been fit and he would have played.

“But everything happens for a reason and we got Regan in, who was excellent. It was his first game and he was a man at the back.

“I thought all of them were good. It was a great solid performance without being too exciting.”

Flynn was particularly impressed with Tyreeq Bakinson and Scot Bennett in midfield.

“I try not to single out players in the press,” he said. “I don’t like doing that, but I tell the players when they need to improve.

“We talk and Tyreeq knows what he needs to improve on. I thought he was excellent.

“And Benno was brilliant. I think he’s been exceptional all season, bar maybe one or two games.

“The amount of running he does is fantastic and he’s always in the right position.

“He’s played at the back and in midfield and he’s been key for us when we’ve had so many injuries in midfield.

“He’s an unsung player and I think it’s about time he had some serious praise because I thought he was excellent.”