Newport County boss determined to avoid FA Cup shock at Maldon & Tiptree

County kick-off the FA Cup second-round tomorrow night with a tricky trip to Isthmian League North Division side Maldon & Tiptree (kick-off 7.55pm).

Maldon won at League Two Leyton Orient in the first round and, with tomorrow’s tie being shown live on BBC Two, Flynn knows that the nation will be hoping the underdogs can pull off another shock.

The Exiles have got used to being the giantkillers themselves over the past two seasons and they will certainly not be underestimating the non-league minnows.

“They had a very good result against Leyton Orient, they’re at home and they can maybe sense an upset,” said Flynn.

“It’s the FA Cup, it happens. But it won’t be happening in this game.

“It won’t happen, not if we’re at it.

“The players are very focused and they know what to expect and I know what to expect – it’s going to be a blood and guts FA Cup tie.

“I’m not being disrespectful; I’ve just got full confidence in my players,” added the Exiles boss.

“I respect Maldon a lot because they did have a fantastic result against Leyton Orient and it was a well-deserved result.

“Anything can happen, but my players have prepared very well.”

Flynn’s men won at Metropolitan Police in the first-round last season and they haven’t lost to an eighth-tier team since crashing out to Yate Town in a replay at Rodney Parade in 2012 (below).

“I remember us losing to Yate,” said Flynn, who played in the 3-3 draw at Yate.

“I wasn’t on the pitch for the replay, which was a blessing in disguise, but I remember that one.

“And we were lucky to get a replay after scoring two late goals, so I know how difficult it could be [at Maldon].

“I know they’re going to be up for it, they’re going to be hostile, but I’d love to play in it. It’s going to be a great atmosphere, it’s a proper FA Cup game.”

Flynn must decide whether to recall Tom King or stick with Nick Townsend in goal and he could hand Dom Jefferies a start at right-back if Danny McNamara is again unavailable in the FA Cup and Robbie Willmott fails to recover from a calf strain.

Willmott missed the 1-0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic last weekend.

“I wasn’t happy on Saturday because I know we’re better than that so there could be changes,” said the manager.

“You’re always concerned when you lose a game but I don’t get too carried away and I’m not going to get too down now.

“There are a few things that we needed to address – maybe a lack of confidence on Saturday.

“We didn’t quite play to the levels that we know we can but we need to all stick together and dig in.

“There’s only one way to get confidence back, and that’s by working hard and backing yourself.”

County have not sold out their allocation of 250 tickets but Flynn is confident that the travelling fans will make themselves heard.

“They’ll be at home, most of them, or in the pub with a cold beer and they’ll be screaming everything they can at the TV,” he said.

“And the people who make the journey down, fair play to them. I’m sure they’ll get behind us.”

Read more: Newport County star Padraig Amond wants to play on and on