5 things we learned from Crawley Town 1 Newport County 2

1. Michael Flynn really is Mr Motivator (without the leotard)

This time last month the Exiles boss admitted that he’d given Frank Nouble the half-time hairdryer treatment after the striker had been to blame for Chesterfield taking the lead at Rodney Parade. Nouble duly went out and hit a stunning hat-trick in the second half.

And Flynn told us after last night’s match that he’d given Mickey Demetriou “a rocket” for his part in Crawley taking the lead at the Checkatrade.com Stadium. The defender had already made amends with the equaliser but the manager’s words of wisdom inspired him to head in the winner after the break.

2. Ben White can and will play anywhere

Demetriou, who hails from Durrington near Worthing, wasn’t the local boy to catch the eye in West Sussex last night as Brighton & Hove Albion teenager White produced another dazzling display.

That is quickly becoming the norm for the 19-year-old loan star but what was so impressive at Crawley was the fact that he started the match at left-back before switching to the middle when Mark O’Brien was forced off and then shifting again to right-back when David Pipe had to be withdrawn.

Needless to say, White looked at ease wherever he played and the County back four stood firm despite all the disruptions.

3. County could take the next three and a half months off

This win took the Exiles to 18 points from 10 games and that is a tally that they didn’t reach until January 14 last season in their 25th game of the campaign – a 1-1 home draw with Colchester United that put an end to a horrific run of eight successive losses in League Two.

It’s a stark reminder of the progress made under Flynn and, though there is much hard work to do over the winter months, this first away win in five matches in all competitions certainly takes the pressure off a tough looking trip to Luton Town this coming Saturday.

4. Harry Kewell doesn’t rate Exiles’ play-off hopes

It’s safe to say that the former Liverpool star won’t be buying himself a season ticket at Rodney Parade if this football management lark doesn’t work out – and the jury is still very much out on him at Crawley.

Kewell was critical of his own side after the match but was reluctant to give County much credit for their win, seemingly dismissing them as long-ball merchants who rely on set-pieces to score and offer very little entertainment value.

When asked if the Exiles could maintain their play-off place the Australian paused for what seemed an age and seemed to make a show of smiling and then laughing. When he finally composed himself he again made clear that he was not a fan of how Flynn’s team play.

5. Mark Randall may be regretting his choice

The former Arsenal man was reduced to a 10-minute cameo from the bench against the club he left in the summer, ostensibly to be closer to his family in Milton Keynes.

The reality of the massive car park that is the M25 will be hitting home by now and one look at the League Two table – with County seventh and Crawley 19th – may be enough to have Randall wishing he hadn’t ripped up the final year of his contract in South Wales.