BOSS Michael Flynn said his Newport County side needed to “liven up” at the back and “tidy up” in attack after failing to secure their place in the second round of the FA Cup at the first time of asking.

A late Padraig Amond penalty rescued a 1-1 draw away to League Two rivals Grimsby Town on Saturday, but the Exiles certainly had the chances to get the job done in Cleethorpes.

And while frustrated County lacked a cutting edge in the final third, Flynn also felt the visitors’ defending for Luke Waterfall’s opener left a lot to be desired.

“We should have put the game to bed,” he said. “We didn’t have enough of a cutting edge in the first half, or second half actually, but we dominated the game.

“We gave away a sloppy goal, and with some better finishing and better runs, we should have scored a hatful.

“We defended well, attacked well, but that cutting edge just wasn’t there, and if it was then we would have been comfortably in the next round.

“I think we must have had close to 30 crosses in the second half and we didn’t have anybody on the end of them, or we hit the post, or it hit the first man.

“We need to tidy up that part and we’ll score a lot of goals.”

He added: “We were by far the better team and conceded a schoolboy goal, and it’s something I’m not happy about.

“The way we defended the throw-in was awful, Ryan Inniss got dragged out and doesn’t do anything because he’s not touch tight.

“They get a free cross and then a free header. He’s a 6ft 3ins centre-back with a free header in the box.

“It’s crazy and it’s not what we’re about. It has happened a few times now and they need to liven up in that department.”

Flynn continued: “The main thing I said to the players before the game was that I wanted to be in the hat on Monday.

“But, if I’m totally honest, we should have won the game. We were the better team in nearly every area, that’s the frustrating thing.”

On-loan Danny McNamara wasn’t available for the tie so Flynn switched left-back Ryan Haynes over to the right.

“It’s not ideal, having to put a left-footer at right-back, but I thought he did very well,” he said.

“We knew Ryan would automatically drive inside. We told Robbie (Willmott) to stay wide to give him that space to go into.

“And we had a lot of joy, we just under-hit or over-hit a cross and failed in the final third.

“But as soon as that clicks in, we’re going to score a few more goals.”

Flynn, meanwhile, paid tribute to the 60 or 30 County fans who had made the long trip for the game.

He said: “It’s cold, getting close to Christmas, and they’re really showing how much they love the club.

“And that’s why we always try and clap them before a game and after, whether we win, lose or draw, just to show how much we appreciate them.”

Due to County’s international call-ups, the replay, according to Flynn, won’t take place a week on Tuesday, November 19, the day it would have been played.