A FURIOUS Michael Flynn accused his Newport County AFC players of not listening to instructions as they collapsed to a 2-1 defeat at Rodney Parade.

County led 1-0 through Ben White’s 73rd-minute header and looked to be on their way to a first League Two win since October 14.

But struggling Barnet levelled through John Akinde two minutes from time before snatching all three points through Shaquile Coulthirst at the death.

The defeat sees the Exiles drop to 10th, four points off the top seven ahead of Saturday’s trip to fifth-placed Swindon Town.

“It wasn’t good enough in the last 10 minutes,” said Flynn. “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot.

“When players start not listening to what you ask them to do in certain situations you get punished and that’s what happened.

“They were free headers in the box and it was terrible.

“In my team talk before the game, two points I highlighted were game management and stopping crosses. We didn’t do that.”

County have now drawn three and lost three in the six league games since they beat Forest Green Rovers 4-0.

They conceded late equalisers to draw 1-1 with Port Vale and Accrington Stanley and went one worse against Barnet.

“We’ve had a good run and we’ve got to raise it again now because we don’t want to go flat and go back to type and start struggling,” added the Exiles boss.

“I’m just hoping it’s a blip and we bounce back on Saturday.”