Mark O’Brien admits helping Newport County AFC keep a clean sheet was more important than netting his first goal of the campaign during the magnificent 2-0 victory over Swindon Town.
The Exiles defender – famed for his heroics in the Great Escape – scored his third County goal when opening the scoring at The County Ground on 38 minutes by heading home a Robbie Willmott free-kick.
Jamille Matt made sure the three points would be heading back to South Wales when he emphatically volleyed home the second with eight minutes remaining following a perfect delivery from Padraig Amond.
Here, read what O’Brien exclusively told iFollow Exiles following the conclusion of the contest…
On his goal and the clean sheet…
"It’s great to get on the scoresheet because as we’ve said for a long time, you can’t always just leave it down to your strikers to score all the goals.
"It is a good feeling but, at the end of the day, I’m a defender and the clean sheet is more important.
"Like we always say, if we can keep them out at one end, we know we’ve got lads at the other end who can stick them in.
"It was a great team performance, everyone put in a great shift and that’s from the lads who played and came off the bench. It was a great win."
On a superb team performance…
"It’s a statement performance. We’ve been doing that and showing it nonstop this season.
We’ve shown we can compete with the so-called best teams in the league. We’ve just got to keep this momentum going and keep going to the next one now.
"As well as the back five, the midfield and Tristan and Jamma all put in a great performance.
"They gave their all which meant it was a full team performance, it wasn’t any individuals who were stepping out and getting the limelight.
"We know we’ve got the players in the team to create chances and to play football. Our basis is making ourselves a hard team to beat and knowing that we’re going to work hard for each other. We’ve shown all that here."
On trying to attract a big crowd for next weekend’s home tie with Carlisle United…
"We’ve put a run together before when it’s mattered and we know what we’re capable of one our day.
"In League Two, you have to turn up on the day because anyone can beat anyone. If we can show a bit more consistency like we have been doing, then we’ll look forward to next Saturday.
"We just take each game as it comes because there’s no point looking too far ahead, it’s a very long season.
"If we can just keep gaining the points and keep pushing on week after week, getting stronger and stronger, then we know we’ll be in with a shout.
"The supporters have been brilliant. They’ve been brilliant from when they travel away with us to the home support. Like we always say, when we get the support turning out at home it’s like a fortress for us and not many teams enjoy coming there.
"If we can get the fans out in numbers again, we’ll put on another performance."
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