NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admitted his side produced a “flat” performance as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at MK Dons.

Joe Day saved a first-half penalty from Kieran Agard, but he was powerless to stop Ousseynou Cisse’s header 12 minutes after the break.

And, after Scot Bennett, Jamille Matt and substitutes Ben Kennedy and Ade Azeez had all gone close, Dons sub Chuks Aneke sealed the win at the death.

“It’s always disappointing when you lose the game,” said Flynn.

“I just thought we were flat today. It was probably one game too many for them this week. It caught up with them.

“We huffed and puffed and we weren’t our usual dynamic selves.

“It’s hard to put your finger on it. We chose the wrong options throughout the game and the two goals we conceded were not good enough.

“I told them at half-time that they had to raise themselves, because you could see it was flat,” he added.

“It’s a difficult place to come, but I thought they were there for the taking – if we’d raised our levels and been a bit more clinical and defended the goals better.

“But we’ve lost to a team who deserved it in the end.”

South Wales Argus:

In-form strikers Matt and Padraig Amond (above) took their tally to 37 goals for the season in midweek, but they were frustrated at Stadium MK.

“I felt sorry for the forwards because they’ve played all season and they give their heart and souls game in and game out, day in and day out with the amount of running they do,” said Flynn.

“I felt for them a little bit and we tried to change it up but we didn’t really have too many clear-cut chances, and the ones we did have we put wide.

“I’m just gutted that we weren’t able to build on Tuesday’s great performance but it is what it is.

“We got what we deserved. We didn’t do enough to win the game and that’s the frustrating thing.

“It’s not the worst performance we’ve had but it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.”

Read more: Match report from Stadium MK