MICHAEL Flynn’s 100th game in charge of Newport County AFC ended in stalemate at Rodney Parade as the Exiles failed to make their superiority count against Crawley Town.

But, after a miserable Christmas with defeats at Lincoln City and at home to Forest Green Rovers, Flynn will at least be pleased to have recorded a rare clean sheet.

The 0-0 draw means County climb a place to 10th in the League Two table and they end the year four points off the play-off places with a game in hand.

Following the Boxing Day debacle against Rovers, David Pipe and Tyreeq Bakinson dropped to the bench and Joss Labadie, who was forced off in that match, was not involved at all.

In came Andrew Crofts, making his first appearance since December 8, Tyler Forbes and Robbie Willmott.

The changes, particularly the return of Crofts, ensured that County looked much harder to break down and they managed to avoid a repeat of their recent disastrous starts.

That was also in part down to the lack of quality in the visitors ranks, but former Exiles loan man Reece Grego-Cox and debutant David Sesay offered some threat on the flanks.

Grego-Cox had the first chance for either side in the 14th minute but his header was easily gathered by Joe Day.

At the other end, Jamille Matt and Fraser Franks both went close with headers but it was top scorer Padraig Amond who was at the centre of most of the action.

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He raced onto a long ball over the top from Dan Butler before lifting his shot over the Crawley goalkeeper Glenn Morris and just wide of the far post.

Butler was again the provider on 31 minutes when his cross was headed into the hands of Morris by Amond.

And the striker had a third chance minutes later when he got his head to a Willmott cross but couldn’t get enough power on it to trouble Morris.

For Crawley, Mark Connolly’s header was comfortably saved by Day and Danny Bulman saw a shot blocked in the box.

But there was still time for another opportunity for Amond after a rampaging solo run into the box from Matt ended up with the Irishman snatching at his shot and smashing the ball high over the bar.

Flynn switched things around in midfield soon after the break when Crofts was replaced by Mark O’Brien and Dolan made way for Bakinson.

O’Brien slotted into the back three and Scot Bennett moved forward to play alongside Bakinson.

The play remained scrappy, however, with only long-range efforts from Panutche Camara and Forbes before Franks headed a tempting Butler free-kick just wide on 62 minutes.

Willmott then linked up with Forbes in a rare foray out wide and his cross just evaded everyone before Amond’s cut-back was scrambled behind.

The Exiles were starting to pile the pressure on the Crawley defence and Willmott really should have scored on 71 minutes but he failed to connect properly with Amond’s perfect cross.

Bakinson then stumbled when the ball was put back in and his shot was blocked before Amond overhit his cross after muscling his way clear of the last man.

Flynn threw on birthday boy Mark Harris in place of Forbes for the final 12 minutes but County couldn’t make the pressure pay and had to settle for a point.

County: Day; Franks, Bennett, Demetriou; Forbes (Harris, 78), Crofts (O’Brien, 51), Dolan (Bakinson, 57), Butler; Willmott; Matt, Amond

Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, Sheehan, Marsh-Brown

Booked: Harris

Referee: Antony Coggins

Attendance: 3,166 (80 Crawley)

Argus star man: Butler