BOSS Michael Flynn has told his players to go out and make history today by becoming the first Newport County AFC team to beat Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, writes David Williams.

County have lost 18 and drawn nine of their 27 matches on Bedfordshire soil since the maiden meeting between the teams in Division Three (South) 96 years ago.

The rivals start this afternoon’s encounter (kick-off 3pm) level on points in the League Two play-off places with only goal difference splitting the Hatters, in fifth, and seventh-placed Newport.

Asked if it could be 28th time lucky today, Flynn said: “It doesn’t affect me one bit but the 28th is my daughter’s birthday so it’s a lucky number for me.

“Let’s go there and get the win at the 28th time of asking.”

He added: “If I was a player I’d be relishing it. It would really get me going.

“They are expecting to trounce us, their fans are expecting to trounce us, and I’d love to go there and get three points, upset the party and get on the coach.

“It’s a tough place to go, they’ve got a good team and a good manager, but you definitely shouldn’t write us off.

“We’re definitely going there trying to grab a win.

“I think I’ve got a very competitive group of players who can go down there and win – and I’ve got every confidence in them.”

A highly-contentious penalty deep into second-half injury-time gave Luton a 2-1 win in the corresponding fixture last season.

County were left seething after what they saw as a blatant dive by Pelly- Ruddock Mpanzu earned the spot-kick from which Cameron McGeehan scored to secure the three points.

Joe Day, Scot Bennett, Dan Butler, Ben Tozer, Joss Labadie and Sean Rigg all featured for the visitors in that fiery clash 13 months ago and are set to be involved again this time around.

Last season, it took until the middle of January for County to reach their current league tally of 18 points.

“It just shows how far the boys have moved things on and how far we’ve improved as a club,” said Flynn.

“It’s looking a lot more promising than it was last season but we’ve got to keep it going.

“We’ll see where we are in January but we’ve got to keep our key players fit and hopefully have a little bit of luck along the way.

"We’ll see where it takes us.”