NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn felt his side should have beaten Crewe Alexandra more comfortably but he was delighted with the resilience they showed to secure a 1-0 win at Rodney Parade.

Padraig Amond headed in the only goal of the game from Mickey Demetriou’s cross on 33 minutes but Crewe would have gone home with a point if Joe Day hadn’t saved a second-half penalty from Paul Green.

“It’s always nice to get the first points on the board against a good side,” said Flynn.

“I’m not getting carried away, just like I didn’t get too down last week, but today we showed the resilience to win a football match and we’re going to need that a lot this season because we’re going to have difficult games and we’ve got to be up for it.

“I thought everybody played their part, from the goalkeeper to the subs who came on and to the boys who supported them who weren’t in the squad.

“That’s the kind of resilience we need and we’ve shown we can do it.”

Flynn praised front pair Amond and Mark Harris, who made his debut in place of Jamille Matt, but he wanted more goals and a more relaxing end to the game.

“Amond is exceptional in the air for such a small lad and Mark was outstanding,” said the Exiles boss.

“He ran himself into the ground and always looked a threat before he got tired.

“But I thought we should have killed them off in the first half.

“It was a very good display but I’m just frustrated that we didn’t get some more goals.”

On the penalty, Flynn said: “I thought it was shoulder to shoulder.

“I’m not going to be criticising referees but you need to be getting them 100 per cent right.

“I might look back at it and owe him an apology but I didn’t think it was a penalty and fortunately Joe made a good save.”

Robbie Willmott, Mark O’Brien and Keanu Marsh-Brown missed the match through injury but Marsh-Brown could return for Tuesday’s trip to Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup.