Exiles benefit from Mullins' 'pragmatic' approach

[Huw Evans Picture Agency] Nathan Blake believes Newport County benefited from Hayden Mullins' more "pragmatic" approach as they started their League Two campaign with a stunning 3-0 win over Rochdale. Goals from Kyle Cameron, Shaquille Gwengwe and Yahya Bamba earned the Exiles all three points in their fourth tier opener at Rodney Parade last weekend in what was Mullins' first league match as boss. The Exiles had just 32.8% possession against Ian Watson's side, despite the fact the visitors played with 10 men after Bryant Bilongo was sent off in the 66th minute. "It's pragmatic, the football they're playing. You're not trying to do what your players aren't capable of," ex-Newport frontman Blake said on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast. "I say it all the time, I won't name the managers, but there's been managers who have been trying to play a style of football, and Newport haven't got the players for it. "It's the Pep Guardiola thing, but there's only one Pep Guardiola. You need to find your own style." Pundits regularly raised concerns over the lack of experience in Newport's squad last season. And former Wales striker Blake has praised new boss Mullins for playing to the strengths of his players. "That's what I like about Mullins. He's come in and he's assessed what he's got," added Blake. "There's nothing wrong with your goalkeeper kicking the ball. For me, they [previously] went too long trying to play football or a style of football that they simply didn't have the players to play. "That's why they got themselves in so much trouble, along with other things. "He's playing a style of football that's more conducive to the players that you've got."