Michael Flynn admitted he “hates playing against Newport County” after seeing his new club Cheltenham start the season with a thrilling 3-2 home victory over his former side.
The Robins boss enjoyed successful times with the Welsh club as a player and manager and still lives in the area.
“I hated it today and I don’t like playing against Newport, I have never liked playing against them,” Flynn said.
“It’s only the last couple of years it has happened and they are a fantastic club with passionate fans and their fans were excellent today, I will say that, like ours were, but I don’t enjoy it.
“There are no winners because I have kids who support them as well. Obviously today they are supporting Cheltenham, but it’s tough for them and they are only young. Sometimes you have to explain: ‘You have to stick with daddy!''”
Cardiff loanee Joel Colwill scored the winning goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time to seal Cheltenham’s first opening day league win for a decade.
Colwill had opened the scoring, with Liam Dulson adding a second, but Newport hit back to make it 2-2 before half-time through Courtney Baker-Richardson’s penalty and an Ollie Greaves strike.
“It showed the character and the fitness of the players to keep going and get the winner right at the end,” Flynn added. “In terms of that I’m delighted, but there is loads to improve on.”
Newport boss Nelson Jardim praised the 1,046 travelling fans and felt his side were unlucky to come away empty-handed.
“The first word is for the fans,” he said. “They were great today and we felt their energy.
“First 20 minutes we were really on top, maybe for five minutes we lost our way and conceded two.
“The second word is for the players, who showed a lot of commitment and character. Only a great group can come from a difference of two goals back to 2-2. I felt like now it’s very unfair that we lost the game.
“We should have won that game actually, taking into account the amount of goalscoring chances that we had.
“We have to take this, learn from it and move on. We were also unlucky, playing with 10 at the end due to an injury (to Hamzad Kargbo) after we had made all our substitutions.”
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup debuts in the United States with a fresh format, gathering 32 elite clubs for the pinnacle of inter-club competition. This edition spotlights Group E, where Asian "Red Devils" Urawa Red Diamonds, Serie A giants Inter Milan, Argentine powerhouse River Plate, and Mexican "Tigers" Monterrey will clash. What unique marks will they leave on the pitch?Asian "Red Devils" Uraw...
ASTON VILLA want to hijack Bournemouth’s move for Rennes skipper Adrien Truffert.Villa look keen on the left-back and could swoop for the 23-year-old if they can quickly sell a player.Aston Villa are trying to hijack France star Adrien TruffertBournemouth are on the brink of agreeing a deal to sign a potential replacement for Milos Kerkez (above)The Cherries are close to agreeing a £20m...
Chelsea are looking to land a second transfer after Liam Delap.Chelsea are set to launch a new bid for Mike Maignan.Chelsea reportedly face crucial days ahead in their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, after already seeing one bid rejected. The France stopper is entering the last year of his contract at the San Siro and has been viewed as a market opportunity at a bargain price.The Blue...
Manchester United's chances of signing Bryan Mbeumo may have received a blow as Tottenham are reportedly readying an offer for the Brentford star.Man Utd eye Brentford's MbeumoTottenham ready their own offerTalks with manager Frank continueWHAT HAPPENED?The Sun report that Tottenham are trying to hijack United's pursuit of Mbeumo - with hopes that landing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as well could ...
Ajax have told Jordan Henderson he can leave for free this summer, with new head coach John Heitinga not counting on the experienced English international. Rumours have linked him with a sensational return to Sunderland, who will return to the Premier League in the 2025-26 season.Livramento to Man City currently on 'stand-by'Fabrizio Romano has reported that Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento's m...
Mikel Arteta is set to oversee a big summer at Arsenal (Image: Getty)Arsenal have waved goodbye to three players without making a permanent signing so far this summer, but the arrivals are not far off. Nuno Tavares has left the Emirates to join Lazio on a permanent deal, while Jorginho and Kieran Tierney have both entered free agency.Arteta picks between Sesko and GyokeresSince the start of the su...
Federico Chiesa is being tipped to leave Liverpool this summer (Image: Getty)Liverpool FC could be about to lose Federico Chiesa less than a year after the Italian joined the Anfield outfit. Chiesa was the only addition to Arne Slot’s squad during last summer’s transfer window, joining for £10million from Juventus.However, a combination of injuries and bad form meant his minutes w...
The summer transfer window is already in full flow, with Premier League clubs in a race against the clock to get deals over the line before the window is put on pause for the Club World Cup on June 10. Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all hopeful of bringing in new signings beforehand, with early exits firmly on the cards as well.Ruben Amorim’s rebuild of United has been kickstar...
Harry Kane and England played out a drab first-half against Andorra (Image: Getty)England were booed off at half-time of their World Cup qualifier against Andorra, after a goalless opening 45 minutes against the European minnows. Thomas Tuchel's men had won their opening two matches of qualification against Albania and Latvia, but the German coach was left wanting more after his side's dismal show...
Cole Palmer failed to impress against Andorra (Image: Getty)Thomas Tuchel's England maintained their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying with a drab 1-0 victory over lowly Andorra. It wasn't as stylish as the Three Lions would've hoped for, with Harry Kane's second-half goal all that separated the two sides.Boos greeted the England players at the half-time whistle, following a dismal first...
- 1 Albanian Laura Woods wows fans in Champions League final outfit
- 2 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 3 Marcus Rashford 'grows close' to stunning semi-pro padel player
- 4 Why Premier League transfer may be off the cards for Victor Osimhen as Man Utd make 'timid' attempts to convince striker
- 5 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 6 FIFA confirms 34 team base camp training sites in the United States for 2025 Club World Cup, including nine in Florida and five in Calitornia
- 7 Man Utd continue to be linked with Emi Martinez
- 8 Daily Laugh - Mbeumo and his amazing talent
- 9 Liverpool's dream transfer window with six signings including £100m striker
- 10 Chukwueze reveals cause of AC Milan’s ‘disastrous’ season