GOALS from Robbie Willmott and Frank Nouble earned Newport County AFC all three points at Grimsby Town. Here's what we learned...

1. Exiles fully focused on promotion hunt

It would have been understandable in many ways if County had suffered an FA Cup hangover after the extraordinary highs of beating Leeds United and then drawing Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round.

The manager and players said all the right things in the build-up to this game about maintaining their focus and they were as good as their words with an excellent team display to claim a fully deserved win and keep pace with their top-seven rivals.

2. Willmott winning over his critics

It’s been a superb start to 2018 for Willmott after man of the match performances against Exeter City and Leeds United and he continued his fine form with a stunning opening goal at Blundell Park.

Willmott appears to have found his position out wide in a front three and he’s quickly becoming a consistent performer having played a key part in three successive victories this year.

3. Nouble needs to try his luck more often

Flynn said afterwards that he has told Nouble to shoot more often and his goal brought to mind the old adage about not winning the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.

The striker scored with another deflected effort against Walsall in the FA Cup first round and he will be more prolific if he goes for goal more often after cutting inside from wide positions.

4. Day proves the difference again

The key moment of the game came at 1-0 when Day made a stunning fingertip save to deny Scott Vernon then caught the resulting corner and set in motion the quick breakaway that led to the crucial second goal from Nouble.

It all happened in around 30 seconds and it was a passage of play that proved the difference between a deserved victory and a possible morale-sapping defeat.

5. Matt finish takes some of the gloss off

Jamille Matt always seems to score against County and he duly delivered once again after coming off the bench for the Mariners in the second half.

It was a goal that the Exiles had risked by once again sitting too deep and shows that they are not the finished article but thankfully Matt picked up a straight red and the visitors survived an incredible eight minutes of stoppage time against the 10 men.