PORTSMOUTH 2 NEWPORT COUNTY 1

THE crowd of 17,364 that watched Portsmouth take on Newport County AFC was the highest attendance in British football on Saturday and the vast majority of the fans left Fratton Park with a sense of relief.

The fact that the automatic promotion hopefuls beat relegation-threatened County was no surprise but Pompey boss Paul Cook spoke for his club’s supporters when he told Michael Flynn that he couldn’t wait for the final whistle.

For Exiles caretaker boss Flynn and the 322 travelling fans there was plenty of pride that they’d pushed the hosts so close but also a sense of regret that they hadn’t earned a precious point after such a stirring showing in the final half hour.

There was frustration too that County had gifted the hosts a two-goal lead, that they hadn’t been awarded a first half penalty and that they hadn’t attacked the opposition with more belief for the first hour of the match.

Like last Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with play-off contenders Luton Town, under normal circumstances this was a performance that would have offered plenty of hope for County’s prospects.

There is still hope for Flynn’s men but, as they are all too aware, they are quickly running out of games to earn the points they need to avoid relegation.

For much of Saturday afternoon, with Cheltenham Town leading at Barnet, they were nine points from safety.

But three late goals from the Bees stung the Robins and ensured that the gap to 22nd remains at six points.

“I didn’t look at the other scores until afterwards,” said Flynn. “I’m concentrating on what we do.

“As it is it’s no different but I think we’ve gained something on the goal difference.

“If we don’t win another game until the end of the season it’s not good enough and we won’t stay up.

“But I’m sure we will. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in the lads.”

Flynn remains confident, as he has to, but this was another day when there were too many ‘what ifs?’ for his side.

South Wales Argus:

What if the referee had pointed to the spot when Alex Samuel appeared to be brought down in the box (above) in the first half?

What if Ryan Bird hadn’t given the ball away in the build-up to Pompey’s first goal, brilliantly created by Carl Baker and expertly finished by Kyle Bennett?

What if Mickey Demetriou and Dan Butler had got closer to Kal Naismith rather than allow the midfielder a free header for the crucial second goal?

What if substitute Marlon Jackson, who was nonetheless impressive, had taken one of his three opportunities either side of Samuel’s header 15 minutes from the end?

And what if fellow sub Mark Randall, who helped create the goal and laid on a great chance for Jackson, had been given more than 20 minutes to make an impact?

“I was so disappointed with the goals we conceded because we defended really well when they got it out wide and crossed the ball,” added Flynn.

“The first goal we lose possession and we didn’t follow the runners and it looked like the parting of the Red Sea.

“The way we started we were switching off in key areas so we went to a 4-4-2, or a 4-4-1-1, after about 20 minutes.

“They were getting a lot of space down the sides and it’s a good job we went through a couple of formations with the boys because it was needed.

“At the end it was almost 4-2-4, 3-4-3, whatever, 3-3-4. It was crazy at the end.

“We had [Joss] Labadie up front, Butler in midfield. We ended up with four up front – we went for it.

“The reaction I got from the players was outstanding; they kept believing and they should have got something at the end.

“We’ll fight for every point and we’ll keep going.”

The spirit in this side is not in question but we’re now at the stage of the season where only points on the board matter.

County: Day; Jones (Randall, 71), Bennett, Demetriou; Pipe, Labadie, Owen-Evans (Myrie-Williams, 46) Butler; Samuel, Bird (Jackson, 46) Rigg

Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb, Nelson, Gordon

Booked: Labadie, Myrie-Williams, Rigg

Referee: Tim Robinson

Attendance: 17, 364 (322 County)