Newport County manager Michael Flynn: I’ll pick a team I think can win

Flynn will be without captain Joss Labadie through suspension and he could look to shake things up further against the struggling Valiants.

Last week’s 0-0 home draw with Notts County ended a run of three straight defeats in League Two for the Exiles and now Flynn wants a first victory since January 19.

“There might be changes this week,” he said. “I thought we were solid defensively but we weren’t very good going forward.

“It was a very determined display but we just needed a little bit more flair with it.

“I might look at a change of formation,” he added.

“It’s tough when you play so well defensively but I’ve got to do what I think will win the game because I’m not going there to draw.

“I’m not going to draw games, I’m going to win games and I’ll pick a team I think can win.”

Flynn has plenty of options up front with five strikers competing for a start.

Shawn McCoulsky (above) and Padraig Amond started up front last Saturday.

“I don’t think they had the greatest of service,” said Flynn.

“The reason for starting the two small ones against Notts County was because I knew what kind of game it was going to be.

“We knew that their two centre-halves were fairly slow so I wanted to put a bit of pace and movement up against them to cause them problems and to try to push them backwards and create some space for our midfielders to come on to the ball and hopefully get into the box and finish some chances.

“It didn’t quite work like that. It was a poor game but Notts County contributed to that as well.

“It goes to show that we’re a solid team. They’ve been in the top two all season and Kevin has done a great job there but they came here and didn’t want to be broken down.”

Frank Nouble and Marlon Jackson (above) came off the bench last week and both are in contention to start today.

“I look at them every day in training and I see what I get out of them and if Frank deserves to play on Saturday he will do,” said the manager.

“I thought Marlon did alright when he came on. He won a few headers.

“They [Amond and McCoulsky] didn’t have the greatest service and the reason we swapped it round was because we realised the game wasn’t going to change too much so we had to get that physical presence up front to keep the ball up there and that did happen.”

Paul Hayes has yet to start for the Exiles but he’s recovered from a groin strain.

“Hayesy is alright now,” added Flynn. “I’m not sure about the match fitness but he’s fully fit, his groin’s fine and he might be in with a shout on Saturday as well.

“There’s a few decisions I’ve got to make and I’ll do it for what I think will win us the game.”