Mike Flynn has warned he needs fresh legs to prevent Newport County’s FA Cup heroics costing them any hope of promotion from League Two.
Matty Dolan’s dramatic equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on Saturday has brought County a money-spinning replay and a chance to make even more cash by reaching the fifth round of the competition.
But with a league game to come on Tuesday at home to Port Vale, Flynn is desperate to sign more players to prevent their recent slide down the table making even the play-offs a distant dream.
“Lennie Lawrence (assistant manager) will tell you that usually Cup runs mean league failure, unless you’re one of the big boys and you can afford to play a totally different team and you can keep everybody fresh,” said Flynn after the 1-1 draw on Teesside.
“We found that out last season and we’ve got a small squad this season.I’m looking to try to add a couple more before the window closes, just to keep everybody on their toes and to freshen it up. It’s a tough schedule now, but it’s something we’re looking forward to.”
County’s draw with Middlesbrough ensured a money-spinning replay at Rodney Parade and another chance to secure a fifth-round spot for the first time since 1949.
Flynn said he was delighted by the way his side battled back to secure an injury-time equaliser from Dolan, a product of Middlesbrough’s academy who never played a first-team game for the club.
“It was just reward for all the effort and quality,” said Flynn.
The game had been billed as the battle between two managers who both hail from the same part of Newport, with Flynn’s counterpart, Tony Pulis, now getting the chance to return to his home town for the replay.
“Obviously there has been a lot of talk about me and Michael (Flynn) but it was a game and once the game starts you want to win,” said Pulis, who thought his side had done enough to progress after Daniel Ayala put Boro into the lead early in the second half.
But Newport, who beat Premier League side Leicester City in the third round, scrapped hard for the equaliser, which eventually came deep in injury team when Dolan scramble the ball home.
“We should have dealt with that one (the goal) a little bit better, they had a good chance before that too. You have got to give them credit. For 25-30 minutes we completely dominated and you have got to create chances and take opportunities, and we didn’t finish them,” said Pulis.
“There has been a bug around the place and one or two players and staff have suffered but I don’t want to take anything away from Newport today, they kept it going until the last minute and I am disappointed we conceded late on.”
Pulis said he was delighted with the debut of John Obi Mikel, the former 32-year-old former Chelsea midfielder who signed last week after being released by Chinese side Tianjin Teda.
“John Obi Mikel did smashing, that was his first game for a long time. He is so composed on the ball, he lifts the rest of the team, he is that type of player,” said Pulis.
