NEWPORT County AFC suffered a second League Two defeat of the season at Morecambe as old nemesis Kevin Ellison proved their undoing once more.
Here are five things we learned from a below-par Exiles display in Lancashire.
1. The fans have seen a different side to the manager
Michael Flynn’s comments about his team after the game speak for themselves.
He hasn’t been that scathing of them since taking over as manager in March.
If they weren’t aware before, the players certainly now know he will not stand for such displays and heads could roll.
2. Reality check for the supporters
The positive start to the season had raised the fans’ expectations going into the trip to Lancashire.
They rightly thought that the three points were there for the taking against a side that hadn’t set the world alight in their opening seven fixtures.
Perhaps, as the boss suggested afterwards, this result will give people around the club a reality check.
3. Bennett bounces back
Scot Bennett was public enemy number one after several mistakes early in the new campaign.
But pushing into midfield, Bennett was arguably County’s standout performer at Morecambe, although it didn’t take much on a forgettable day for the Exiles.
4. The players didn’t heed Flynn’s Ellison warning
Michael Flynn had spoken at length before the game about the danger of the veteran Morecambe striker.
County seem to bring out the best in him and Saturday was no different with the 38-year-old scoring both of his side’s goals.
The visitors couldn’t keep him quiet despite Flynn’s pre-match warning.
5. Attacking threat lacking
County did score and came close to scoring on several occasions, but there doesn’t seem to be that consistent threat from the forwards for large portions of the game.
If Nouble and Amond are to continue as the Exiles’ strike force then they need to show more clearly they can work together.
Shawn McCoulsky and Lamar Reynolds are both back fit so may well come into the manager’s plans for Grimsby.
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