I WILL stick with the County this week and address something that is becoming a real source of frustration for the Argus football writers this season.

Namely, it's the totally false and utterly unfair reputation the club seems to have earned as nasty and overly physical long-ball merchants trying to smash their way through the divisions.

The way some opposition managers and fans bemoan the style of the Exiles you'd think County were the reincarnation of Bobby Gould's Wimbledon.

The Exiles are by no means a long-ball team and neither are they overly physical.

A dozen sides in League Two this term have had more players sent off than the Exiles and Newport are only sixth for total bookings, not even enough to guarantee a Europa League spot in the European bad boys competition.

County have a manager in Justin Edinburgh who understands you have to have a level of physicality to compete in the Conference or League Two, but the style of football played has evolved throughout his tenure at the club.

Lee Evans, a totally modern footballer with two great feet and who would've been considered too small by many, flourished at Newport, as did Alex Gilbey.

Edinburgh has subsequently signed Adam Chapman and Ryan Burge, lovely passers of a ball and also turned Sam Foley into a central midfielder capable of playing a key role in a League One promotion with Yeovil.

He is comfortable mixing his tactics, from 5-3-2 to 3-4-3 to 4-4-2 and anything in between, while Newport always, even in the worst injury crisis, have three or four forwards to choose from.

Edinburgh, as a former defender, certainly can't be accused of not prioritising having serious firepower in his squad and encourages attacking intent.

Newport have scored some stunning goals this season and at times, especially at home, having been relentlessly positive and keen to move the ball quickly and to feet.

Their perception as being anything other than a good footballing side is grossly unfair.