IT IS now 203 days since Newport County AFC were last beaten at Rodney Parade but manager Michael Flynn won’t allow any complacency against Yeovil Town this afternoon.

Not since Blackpool won 3-1 in Newport on March 18 – Flynn’s first home match in charge – have County lost at home.

That is a record matched only by League One title challengers Wigan Athletic amongst the 72 clubs in the Football League.

And it means County will be confident of bouncing back from last week’s defeat at Luton Town, but not over-confident according to Flynn.

“It’s not a bad record but I won’t be taking anything for granted,” said the Exiles boss.

“I’ll be preparing for it exactly the same as my first home game.

“We want to win every game. It’s impossible to do that really but I won’t be telling the lads to take it easy because we haven’t lost at home for 200 days so it’s a foregone conclusion.

“We want to extend that record and keep it going for as long as we can.”

Flynn says the impressive home record is down to hard work on the training pitch.

“We set our team up well,” he said. “We try to play good football. We don’t always do that but we try. And we make sure that we defend properly.

“It’s the basics of football; you’ve got to get it right at both ends. And thankfully we’re doing that.

“People know they’re in for a game when they come to Rodney Parade now,” he added.

“It’s a tough place to come. It always has been – I don’t think there’s many teams who’ve turned up and had an easy ride.

“There’s been one or two over the years but teams know they’re going to have to do something good to go home with all three points.

“But anything can happen so nothing will be taken for granted. I just want us to keep improving and keep maintaining our beliefs and our commitment and attitude.”

Midfielder Ben Tozer says there is no magic formula behind the team’s fine form at Rodney Parade.

“I don’t think there is any secret, really,” he said.

“It’s just a massive difference in morale and camaraderie and the way that we’re playing.

“Everyone is honest and works for each other and I think fans see that and they get behind you.

“If you give them something to cheer about then they’ll give you that bit extra to play for.”

And the new £750,000 pitch has certainly made a difference.

“It’s a nice place to turn up to now because of the pitch,” added Tozer.

“There was such a negative vibe about the place [last season].

“Now it’s a proper pitch and you think ‘this is a proper pitch, we’re going to enjoy it today’ and that’s what we’ve done.

“It’s definitely helped us this season.”