Teammate: “Byron is a strong character and will fight back.” Chapman, Adan
Byron Anthony, a defender for NEWPORT County, has been given the go-ahead to heal from his terrible injury at Brighton.
Justin Edinburgh’s team’s 3-1 Capital One Cup triumph was overshadowed when center-half Anthony shattered his leg in two places during a collision with Seasiders full-back Inigo Calderon.
Following the second-half incident in which the Spaniard was dismissed, County, who had been behind, rallied, scoring goals from Danny Crow (2) and Conor Washington to advance the Exiles to round two.
Calderon, who visited Anthony in the hospital following the game, was not at fault, according to Edinburgh.
However, teammate Adam Chapman said that the injury to the former Cardiff City player, which resulted in Brighton supporters jeering as the player was taken out on a stretcher, had cast a cloud over things.
“What happened to Byron did fire us up,” the 23-year-old Chapman said.
“He was outstanding throughout the game, as he had been throughout the first half of the season.
“While I don’t believe their son intended it, it was unfortunate and
“I witnessed his ankle slip while standing directly behind him. I immediately realised that it was broken.
Their athletes were excellent and really caring.
“When a player is dismissed, the audience will behave in that manner. I believe they will reconsider their position once they realise what has happened.
However, Byron is a strong person, therefore he will return to it.
“Despite what occurred, he will have been thrilled for us because the 3-1 victory was wonderful.
“Despite the red card, I believe we gave it our all to tie the game.
“The red card did make a difference, but nobody can fault us for the victory.”
The second round opponent for Edinburgh and his team will be revealed today, and midfielder Chapman, who joined County from Oxford for a second stint in June, said he was looking to kill another monster right now.
In addition to their cup victories, Newport will travel to Northampton on Saturday for their first League Two away game of the year.
County defeated Accrington Stanley 4-1 at home last Saturday to get their first Football League season in 25 years off to the best possible start.
“We’d like a big team, maybe at home in the next round, because you’ve got more chance of winning,” he remarked. But it would be fantastic to play in another dazzling arena, to be the underdog and come out on top.
The hat is just extremely comfortable to be in, though.
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but it’s clear that we like the way things are right now.
“We want to maintain the same performance levels.
It won’t be difficult to prepare for Northampton because we’ve already been discussing it.
“This bunch of people is great. They are all fantastic young men that want to achieve.
“We won’t have any trouble being prepared for Saturday because we want to perform for each other.
“Of course, Accrington has sent a message, but we won’t be shouting from the mountaintops that we’re going to win the league.
We simply want to provide a positive image of ourselves each week and see where it leads.
Steve Aizlewood, a former defender for Newport County, Swindon, and Portsmouth, passed away at age 60 after a brief illness.
