MARK Randall feels he and his Newport County AFC teammates are due a change in fortune after a somewhat frustrating start to the new season in League Two.

The Exiles sit 17th in the table with four points from as many games but could well have been heading to Hartlepool this Saturday protecting an unbeaten record.

For as well as a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient and draw with Crewe, Warren Feeney’s men surrendered points against Mansfield and Luton following injury-time heartache.

This time last week County were seething after conceding a controversial penalty at Kenilworth Road that resulted in them losing to the Hatters.

On that matter, Randall has echoed the sentiments of fellow midfielder Joss Labadie, who called for everyone to put what happened in Bedfordshire behind them.

Feeney branded referee Charles Breakspear’s award of that late spot-kick an “absolute total disgraceful decision”.

Penalty scorer Cameron McGeehan then labelled the Exiles “cheats” for what he perceives as an overly-physical approach to the game.

“I don’t think we’re a dirty team,” said Randall. “I think you’ve got to have a bit in you but we’re not cheats.

“I think the comments were a bit unfair but I think we’ve got to put it to the back of our minds now and use it when we need to.

“I think we’ve showed in the last four or five games that we can definitely play with the ball as much as we battle.

“That’s what League Two is all about – you’ve got to win the battle to earn the right to play I think, and I think we have done so far.

“We’ve battled hard for each other, we look after each other when we’re on the pitch and I think we’ve been unfortunate. Hopefully our luck will change.

“We’re all really good friends at this club. The manager makes us be a close bunch and I think we have gelled pretty quickly.

“Our performances haven’t been bad at all. We started a bit slowly (against Crewe) but we’ve been very unlucky.

“We’ve had a lot of games and we’re such a small squad. We’ll have a couple of days rest now and be ready to go again on Saturday.”

County boss Feeney has expressed his eagerness to bring more new faces to Rodney Parade before transfer deadline day on August 31 – and Randall would also welcome further additions to the squad in the near future.

“It will be good for us I think,” he added. “We need all the help we can get really and I’m sure the manager will bring in the right players.”