Michael Flynn: Leaders Newport have room for improvement

The Exiles will attempt to strengthen their position at the head of the table when they welcome promoted Harrogate Town to Rodney Parade tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

County have won seven of their first nine games with a draw at Scunthorpe on opening weekend and a solitary loss at second-placed Cambridge.

They are five points ahead of fourth-placed Carlisle and are hunting a fifth win on the bounce, but Flynn isn't looking at the promotion zone just yet.

The County boss is proud of his players being the pace-setters but knows they are capable of even more.

"You can always improve," said Flynn. "I am not going to say that we are the finished article, no chance.

"We can be a little bit more ruthless in the final third, we can move the ball quicker at times.

"They are doing well, I am not trying to knock their achievements. In fact, they are doing extremely well, but I just want it to continue.

"We need to keep on top of them and make sure they are fully focused, which they are.

"What teams sometimes do is neglect the things that they are doing well. The things that we are doing well, can we do them better?

"That's what we always try to achieve and it's quite tough at the minute because we are not having too many training days as a group because of the games on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

"When we do get that free week on the training ground we can really drum it home and go into more detail."

While Flynn is level-headed, the Amber Army are excited about what they have watched on their screens while locked out of Rodney Parade.

The boss from Pill is wary of the local trait of there being no middle ground in the city.

Flynn said: "The problem is that we lose a couple and it's all doom and gloom!

"There is no happy medium with Newport, I know a lot of fans get excited but you're either on top of the world or rock bottom.

"We need to keep realistic and I have always been level-headed. I've not got too carried away or too down. If the fans want to get excited then I can't control that, but it's very early days."

County have kept changes to a minimum in recent weeks with just one enforced change in four games when Padraig Amond replaced the injured Saikou Janneh against Colchester on Tuesday.

The Exiles have profited from a solid defence in front of in-form goalkeeper Nick Townsend, a well-balanced midfield and energy up front while wing-backs Ryan Haynes and Liam Shephard have set the tone with their work rate.

"We've been three at the back for a long time. We have changed it in the past and gone to a four, and I'm not saying we won't do that again, but at the moment this is suiting us," said Flynn, who has deadline day loan signings Jamie Devitt and Aaron Lewis available.

"We've got the rotation in midfield, Matty Dolan coming out of defence and the wing-backs bombing on.

"We've looked at the wing-backs because at home they are both bombing at the same time while away from home we have tried to rein that in a little so that we are not exposed to the counter.

"We are constantly working on strategies, formations and the rotation of players because we still want to improve.

"The wing-backs have been very good and have played nearly every minute of every game, their fitness levels are good and long may it continue."

County start as hot favourites tomorrow afternoon but Harrogate have started impressively after heading up from the National League.

The Yorkshiremen have taken 15 points from nine games and will be hunting a scalps against the table-topping Exiles.

"Harrogate have started very well and are a high energy team," said Flynn. "They are going to be difficult to play against, and every game this season is going to be a tough one.

"Simon Weaver has done a fantastic job getting them into the Football League. That's a huge, huge achievement and they should be very proud, but they haven't come to just make up the numbers.

"They have started really well and have a togetherness and some good players. It will be a tough game and if we think that we are just going to turn up and get the three points then we will end up with none."