Newport County 0-1 Walsall: Mickey Demetriou own goal separates sides
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Aaron Wildig thought he had given Newport County an early lead but the goal was disallowed
Mike Flynn's return to Newport was a happy one as his Walsall side secured a narrow 1-0 win at Rodney Parade.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Aaron Wildig's bullet header beat Owen Evans, but the goal was ruled out of offside.
Walsall took the lead midway through the second half as Mickey Demetriou turned the ball into his own net after Nick Townsend saved an initial header.
Taylor Allen's red card set up a tense finish, but Walsall held on to win.
Victory sees Walsall move top of League Two while Newport remain on one point from two games, and drop to 17th.
Newport County manager James Rowberry said: "We have to be brilliant at the basics, and we were for a period up until the goal.
"We didn't defend the goal well enough, that was the difference today, I'm just bamboozled that we haven't got anything out of the game.
"I would be worried if we weren't getting chances, but we're still in the process of building something."
Walsall head coach Mike Flynn said: "I think the best team lost if I'm totally honest, it was a bit of a surreal feeling afterwards because I've never wanted Newport to lose.
"They were better than us, but we were solid and stuck to our guns, they threw everything at us.
"We were absolutely tremendous defensively and we had that togetherness."