NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh is hoping his side can take advantage of the Friday night lights factor at Rodney Parade and move into the League Two play-off places.

County put in a superb display as they dumped Portsmouth out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night and Edinburgh wants more of the same against Hartlepool United tomorrow night.

Three points could lift the Exiles to fourth in the table before their rivals play on Saturday and Edinburgh is keen to keep the pressure on those teams around them in League Two.

“We do enjoy playing under the lights at Rodney Parade and it was another great night for our vocal crowd,” he said after Tuesday’s win.

“It shows how far we’ve come in the last few years that in 2008 Pompey were winning the FA Cup and we were in the Conference South so to have beaten a club of that magnitude is a real fantastic evening for the football club.

“It will be a really tough game against Hartlepool,” he added. “They’ve been on a great run after a slow start to the season but our home form is second to none.

“I’m really looking forward to what will be a first for us on a Friday night and the atmosphere should be fantastic.

“Hopefully we can continue this great run we’re on and if we can get the right result it would put us in a very good position going into the weekend.”

Edinburgh was particularly impressed with the performance of defender Adedeji Oshilaja against Pompey.

The 20-year-old was superb at the back and scored County’s second goal and the Exiles boss is keen to extend his one-month loan deal from Cardiff City.

“He’s got a bright future,” he said. “In the short time he’s been here he’s been outstanding. He reads the game superbly and he was marshalled along very well by Ismail Yakubu and Harry Worley.

“I think he’s enjoying his time here and hopefully we can extend his stay and continue his development and our success.”

The one negative from Tuesday was the red card shown to captain David Pipe for a two-footed tackle on Ricky Holmes.

But Edinburgh refused to condemn his skipper and will consider appealing the decision in an attempt to avoid a three-game ban.

“David is an honest player. He’s not malicious, he’s committed and if it is a sending off I know there would be no malice,” he said.

“It would just be a captain leading his team and showing a desire to win.

“A suspension is the last thing we need but there’s not a lot we can do about that unless we feel we can appeal the decision.

“He’s quite adamant that he got good contact on the ball so we’ll look at it.”