NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn saw enough positives in the Boxing Day defeat at Exeter City to convince him that his side will “turn the corner” before too long.

The 1-0 loss at St James Park was a sixth reverse in seven League Two fixtures for County and it extended their winless run to eight league games.

Flynn’s men are down to 14th in the table ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Leyton Orient and the New Year’s Day game against Cheltenham Town at Rodney Parade.

But he is certain that they will start to climb the table again very soon.

“We’re on a bad run at the minute,” said the Exiles boss. “I’m not going to deny it, I can’t deny it.

“We’re on a bad run and we’ve got to snap out of it because we’ve got ambitions.

“We want to do well in this league and, at the minute, we’re not helping ourselves one bit.

“But I’ve seen enough positives,” he added.

“They stuck together and backed each other and we will turn this corner.”

There were some boos from the 521 away fans in Exeter on Thursday and Flynn was confronted by one supporter as he left the pitch.

“It was fine,” he explained. “He just said that he thought there was no effort. I just said, ‘I hope you had a good Christmas’ and it was fine.

“Of course, people are going to be frustrated. I’m frustrated as well and I have no qualms about that.

“He made his point and he did it in the right way. There was no abuse thrown and, fair play, he’s entitled to his opinions.

“I’m the manager and I need to take it on the chin, because the buck stops with me. Whether it’s right or wrong, it does.”

It’s at times like these that Flynn would have called his old mentor Justin Edinburgh, who died aged 49 in June.

And Sunday’s match, against Edinburgh’s final club, will see County pay tribute to the man who led them to promotion in 2013.

“He’s somebody that I have so much respect for,” said Flynn. “I’m absolutely devastated with what’s happened to him and I miss him, it’s as simple as that.

“I’m sure our supporters and the Leyton Orient supporters will get together and we’ll do all we can to support the Justin Edinburgh Foundation.

“It does put things into perspective. But my wife is very supportive.

“And Lennie [Lawrence] is good, Hats (Wayne Hatswell) is good, Jim [Holman, goalkeeping coach] is good. We’ve got a really tight group and it will turn.”

Mark O’Brien, Kyle Howkins, Dan Leadbitter, Robbie Willmott, Corey Whitely and Ade Azeez are all set to miss Sunday’s game through injury.

“There aren’t many options to change things,” said Flynn. “We’ve still got six out and four or five would be starters.”

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