NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn wants his players to be free to express themselves as they return to Rodney Parade tomorrow to take on Crewe Alexandra in their first home match of the new League Two season.

It’s been 104 days since County’s last competitive match at their home ground – a 2-1 win over Cambridge United on April 28 – and Flynn is relishing a clash with the early League Two pace-setters.

The Exiles boss is full of admiration for the club’s “passionate” fans and after last week’s opening day defeat at Mansfield Town he’s determined to give them something to cheer about this weekend.

But Flynn is also appealing for a sense of “realism” if things don’t go to plan as he looks to take some of the pressure off his new-look team.

"I'm really looking forward to us playing in front of our fans,” he said.

“They're a passionate group. The majority of them have been excellent throughout – not just in my time here but since I've know the football club.

“There's a good, solid, hard group of fans who are with us through thick and thin.

“They bleed the Black and Amber. It's what a football club like Newport County needs. We need those loyal fans to keep the players going and the club going."

But Flynn felt the reaction to the 3-0 defeat at Mansfield in some quarters was over the top and is confident that his team can bounce back with a win over Crewe, who top the table after their 6-0 win over Morecambe.

“If you listen to some people Crewe are already promoted, we’re relegated and we might as well pack up with 45 games to go – it’s a done and dusted league,” he joked.

"I'm always confident. I go into every game to win. We lost the first game, it happens. It's one of those things.

“I'm sure a few bigger clubs than Newport County lost their first game.

“But that's what comes with how well we did last season. People get carried away.

“I think there needs to be a realism to what we can achieve and also to take the pressure off the players.

“The players are my biggest concern. I want to make sure they're looked after and in a good frame of mind and they're ready to express themselves on a Saturday.

“We lost a game of football, it'll happen. We lost there [at Mansfield] last season and we still finished 11th, I'm not too concerned about that.

“I’ve told the players just to keep believing,” he added.

“We’ve got to make sure that we cut out the mistakes and take our chances at the weekend and we’ll be fine.”

Crewe boss David Artell is expecting a difficult afternoon.

“They'll be a wounded animal,” he said. “I’m sure Michael will think they’re far better than a 3-0 defeat at Mansfield, that’s for sure.

“They’ll be in front of their home fans for the first time and they’ll want to prove that true. We’re expecting a really tough game.”