GARY Bowyer praised City’s staying power after today’s 1-0 win on their Valley Parade return.

James Vaughan’s second-half penalty bagged the three points against Newport in the first home league game since November 2.

Bowyer said: “You expect teams to come here and initially raise their game and have that intensity.

“As the game goes on, they’ve got to stay at that level. We know we can do that.

“We’ve shown that this year. If anything, we’ve generally got better and stronger in the second half at this place.

“We knew that would happen. Our fitness and concentration levels were very good.”

City, who changed their system to three at the back, were without injured trio Harry Pritchard, Ben Richards-Everton and Hope Akpan.

Bowyer admitted the absentees and different formation were factors in a low-key first half against Michael Flynn’s side.

He added: “We lost three injuries in the week, one yesterday, so I expected it to be a little bit like that while we got used to the game and the system.

“We grew into it and had a wonderful chance with Kelvin Mellor’s header when I expected him to score. Remi Oteh got in a couple of times and I don’t think they had a shot on target in the first half.

“The intensity of Remi’s pressing was then amazing to force the error from (Ryan) Inniss. Vaughany anticipated the back pass and got round the keeper who pulled him down.”

City’s win moved them up to sixth but still five points off leaders Swindon, whose 3-0 win at Grimsby featured another goal for Eoin Doyle.

The on-loan Irishman has now scored in eight successive league games.

Bowyer said: “You always want players to be scoring goals or playing well in any position. The situation with that is we’ll review it in January.”