SEAN Rigg believes Newport County AFC have shown that they are “the team to beat” in League Two this season and should not fear going to Meadow Lane this coming weekend.

The Exiles, currently sixth in the table, head to second-placed Notts County in confident mood after picking up 25 points from their first 15 games.

Michael Flynn’s men have dropped five points at home to Colchester United and Mansfield Town in the past week.

And County have been beaten away from home by fellow promotion contenders Exeter City and Luton Town already this season but Rigg says they won’t fear the Magpies.

“I think we’ve shown that we can do it against the so-called big teams already this season,” said the 29-year-old, who came off the bench to help rescue a point against Mansfield on Saturday.

“I think people are looking at us now and thinking we’re the team to beat in many ways this year.

“We’ll go there with confidence because there’s nothing to shy away from. We’ll go there, enjoy it, and hopefully get the three points.”

Rigg is in his second season at Rodney Parade and he’s pleased with the improvement compared to this time last year.

County have 11 more points than they did after 15 games of the 2016-2017 campaign in League Two, scoring five more goals and conceding seven fewer.

Strikers Shawn McCoulsky (seven), Padraig Amond (six) and Frank Nouble (five) have 18 goals between them in all competitions.

Joss Labadie and Mickey Demetriou have three goals apiece, Scot Bennett two and Reece Cole, who has since returned to Brentford, one.

“We’ve got plenty more goals this year,” added Rigg.

“But I think we do need to start chipping in as well from different positions.

“For myself, I need to get going on the goal front but as soon as I get the first, I know they’ll start coming.

“I think everyone is trying to do the right thing, getting into those good positions and I think once we start putting all the chances away then we’ll be a real problem.”

Rigg nearly scored at the wrong end with his very first touch after coming on against Mansfield as he headed against the post under pressure from Alfie Potter.

“It was a bit of a funny one really,” he told iFollow Exiles.

“I did feel him behind me and I was kind of in two minds thinking is he going to go for it or is he not.

“Then I ended up going for it and he nudged me a little bit so it came off the wrong part of my head.

“To hit your own post with your first touch is a bit of a shaky one but luckily it didn’t go in!”