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Manager Graham Westley Has Belief Newport County Can Survive

The stand at Rodney Parade on match day

The stand at Rodney Parade on match day

Graham Westley can only sit and wait this evening (Tuesday) simply hoping that Newport County’s plight at the foot of League Two doesn’t get any worse. They are six points away from safety and all of their main relegation rivals are in action. Newport, though, do not have a fixture. Manager Westley, though, insists he […]

Graham Westley can only sit and wait this evening (Tuesday) simply hoping that Newport County’s plight at the foot of League Two doesn’t get any worse.

They are six points away from safety and all of their main relegation rivals are in action. Newport, though, do not have a fixture.

Manager Westley, though, insists he is confident County can still escape dropping out of the Football League this season.

Two clubs will go down and Westley knows it is imperative that at least some results go Newport’s way this midweek – and his team have to beat second from bottom Leyton Orient at Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm).

“We have a lot of work to do, we have to go and win football matches,” he said. “Honestly, I think we’re capable of doing that.

“The lads have come together really well.

“It’s good that we’ve got a clear week ahead of us because hopefully one or two of the knocks will clear up.

“It doesn’t matter who we win the points against. We’re more than capable of grinding out some points and I think these boys will show the quality that they’ve got, the quality of character, the strength of resolve, and I fully expect them to go and win points in the coming games.

“And by the time we’re talking eight games down the line I’m sure we’ll all have a different look on our faces.”

County should have David Pipe, Sid Nelson, Mark O’Brien, Joss Labadie and Sean Rigg available for the Leyton Orient clash this weekend.

Pipe has been ill, while the other four have been suffering from minor injuries.

One player, French defender Maxime Blanchard, has left Newport County after making one appearance.

Blanchard, 30, joined Newport as a free agent after leaving League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers.

Blanchard was Newport’s 14th signing of 2017 and played the full 90 minutes in the draw against League Two leaders Doncaster Rovers.

Westley said: “Max was playing game-to-game. He’s moved on and we wish him well.”

League Two table – bottom seven only

all teams play 46 fixtures

Pl GD Puts

18 Crewe Alexandria 33 -12 36

19 Cheltenham Town 33 -9 35

20 Accrington Stanley 33 -10 34

21 Notts County 33 -21 34

22 Hartlepool United 33 -19 32

23 Leyton Orient 33 -16 29

24 Newport County 33 -16 26

League Two fixtures being played on Tuesday involving bottom seven teams: Accrington Stanley v Wycombe Wanderers, Cheltenham Town v Carlisle United, Hartlepool United v Crewe Alexandria, Plymouth Argyle v Notts County, Stevenage v Leyton Orient.

Saturday fixtures including bottom seven teams: Accrington Stanley v Barnet, Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town, Hartlepool United v Exeter City, Newport County v Leyton Orient, Portsmouth v Crewe Alexandria, Stevenage v Notts County.

Newport County’s remaining fixtures (13)

March

Saturday 4 v Leyton Orient (home)

Saturday 11 v Crewe (away)

Tuesday 14 v Morecambe (away)

Saturday 18 v Blackpool (home)

Tuesday 21 v Luton (home)

Saturday 25 v Portsmouth (away)

April

Saturday 1 v Crawley Town (way)

Saturday 8 v Exeter City (away)

Friday 14 v Yeovil Town (home)

Monday 17 v Plymouth Argyle (away)

Saturday 22 v Accrington Stanley (home)

Saturday 29 v Carlisle United (away)

May

Saturday 6 v Notts County (home)

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