NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admitted his side were not good enough as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Colchester United.

Second-half goals from Ben Stevenson and Tom Eastman earned the hosts a deserved three points and condemned County to successive defeats in League Two for the first time under Flynn.

Colchester completed the double over County and climbed above them into 10th in the table.

The Exiles are down to 11th and are now five points below the play-off positions as they turn their attention to Wednesday’s Wembley FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur.

"It wasn’t good enough as soon as they scored,” said Flynn.

“I thought we were the better team and quite comfortable before they scored but after that we weren’t good enough – we were way off.

“The first goal was crucial and we’ve given away six very sloppy goals in the last three games, and that includes the one against Spurs.

“We played some good football and got into some good positions but it was just the final ball, the final run or the final pass that let us down. It’s very frustrating.

“And after their goal we switched off, you could see the heads go down and it wasn’t good enough.”

Tyler Reid failed to impress the manager as he was handed a first start at right-back.

Asked if the 20-year-old had pushed his case for a start at Wembley, the manager said: “Not really. He needs to get fitter.

“He started bright but he blew up and you can’t be unfit against Tottenham because we’re not going to have the ball too much.”

Flynn was also aggrieved after substitute Shawn McCoulsky was denied a penalty late on.

“It was a definite penalty,” said the Exiles boss. “He’s clipped his heels and, whether or not he’s meant to do it, he’s stopped our striker getting on the end of the ball so it’s a penalty and it’s not good enough [from the officials].”