BRIGHTON manager Graham Potter hailed Newport County AFC’s togetherness for making it a “traumatic” night for the Premier League side at Rodney Parade.

The Seagulls discovered first-hand about the Exiles’ knockout competition pedigree, making it a quarter of the current top flight to have been beaten or given a scare in recent seasons.

Michael Flynn’s side have knocked out Leeds (when they were a Championship team) and Leicester, taken Tottenham to a replay and were goalless at half-time against Manchester City.

Earlier this season Newcastle were taken to penalties in the Carabao Cup and Brighton were also thankful for edging to success from the spot in front of the North Terrace.

South Wales Argus:

“Traumatic as well as dramatic is what I’d call it,” former Swansea boss Potter said after the 1-1 draw and 4-3 penalty success.

"Credit to Michael and Newport, they fought and fought as we'd expected. They were fantastic and we wish them well in their promotion push.

"They provided the really, really tough game that we knew was coming. We knew that it was going to be a tough match.

“The pitch here is really, really difficult while Michael's teams are fantastic at what they do with a massive togetherness.”

Second-placed County return to League Two action against Salford City at Rodney Parade on Saturday.