MANAGER Michael Flynn is not overly concerned with the threat posed by former Newport County AFC strikers Aaron Collins and Shawn McCoulsky this weekend, insisting his side will be going for the win at Forest Green Rovers.
Exiles academy graduate Collins scored against his hometown club for Morecambe back in May, but he’s yet to get off the mark in three games for Forest Green.
McCoulsky netted 11 times in 35 appearances for County while on loan from Bristol City in the 2017-2018 season but is yet to score in 19 games for Rovers since his move to The New Lawn in January.
Both were unused substitutes on Wednesday as Mark Cooper’s side held Premier League Bournemouth to a 0-0 draw at the Vitality Stadium in the Carabao Cup before going out on penalties.
They could return to the starting XI tomorrow afternoon but Flynn is confident that his players, who have earned four successive clean sheets in League Two, can keep the pair quiet.
“They’re a good team,” said the Exiles boss. “They got to the play-offs last season but they’ve changed their squad slightly.
“They’ve gone younger, with more pace and they’ll give us a tough game.
“If we’re on it, we’ve got a good chance of winning it.
“If we’re not, we’ll probably come away empty-handed.
“Whoever Forest Green choose to play, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready for them.
“We’ve got to keep them quiet and not give them any opportunities.”
Asked specifically about the threat posed by his former players, Flynn said only that Collins “played very well against us up at Morecambe” and that McCoulsky “did well when he was here and got a move to Forest Green, probably on the back of that.”
He added: “It’s going to be a tough game, but let’s concentrate on what we do first and we’ll worry about them at kick-off.”
Flynn’s men have earned two points from their two away games in the league so far this season, drawing 0-0 at Cambridge United and Walsall.
He’s targeting all three points tomorrow, but he admitted that he’s learned from the number of defeats his side suffered on the road last season and the team won’t always go for broke away from Rodney Parade.
“We’re going there to win, it’s as simple as that,” said Flynn.
“We drew the first two games and I would rather we’d won one and lost one.
“But one point is better than no points so we’ll be aware of the situation and we won’t be cavalier.
“You can’t always go for the win every time. I’ve learned from last season where we went a little bit gung-ho away from home and lost 13 or 14 [12 in League Two].”
The Exiles took 964 supporters to Nailsworth last October and Flynn is expecting another big following after more than 5,000 home fans watched Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham United.
“The fans were fantastic the other night – to see almost 6,500 at Rodney Parade on a Tuesday night, when the game is live on Sky, was great,” he said.
“I’m sure it’ll be a big following again and I’m sure they’ll be making a lot of noise.”
Defender Kyle Howkins’ mistake allowed Jack Wilshere to give the Hammers the lead in midweek and he could come under pressure from new loan signing Ryan Inniss, but Flynn is set to keep faith with the former West Bromwich Albion centre-back.
“He’s fine,” said the manager. “I think you saw in the second half how he responded. It was near enough his only mistake all evening.
“Unfortunately, we got punished for it but he’s got on with it and answered me the way I wanted him to.”
Read more: Newport County boss expects busy end to transfer window
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