No beef with Lewes - Deano (From South Wales Argus)

No beef with Lewes - Deano

8:30am Saturday 28th November 2009

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NEWPORT County manager Dean Holds-worth says it’s time to bury the hatchet with Lewes, insisting that any bad blood between the clubs is all in the past.

Holdsworth played for the Exiles during the height of the animosity in the 2006-07 season when the East Sussex outfit accused then County striker Craig Hughes of making racist remarks.

The allegations were never proven but they sparked a war of words between the clubs and relations did not improve the following season when Lewes beat Peter Beadle’s County home and away as they won promotion to the Conference.

But the intervening years have not been kind to the Rooks.

They parted company with manager Steve King and came straight back down to the Blue Square South where they now find themselves in 21st place with just 13 points from 17 games.

Now managed by Steve Ibbitson, they started badly but earned a 2-2 draw at Spytty Park in August and have improved markedly of late – unbeaten at home since September and fresh from a 1-0 win over Eastleigh in the FA Trophy on Wednesday.

In light of those recent results Holdsworth takes his squad to the Dripping Pan this afternoon expecting a very tough game.

“Both sides have changed a lot since the problems a few years ago and I think that is all in the past now,” said the Exiles boss.

“But they are a very tough side to play against and their recent record deserves respect so that is exactly what we will give them.

“They caused us plenty of problems earlier in the season and I’ve had them watched recently and been impressed. They also beat Eastleigh on Wednesday so they will be on a real high,” he added.

“We can’t afford to take anything for granted but the lads have trained very well this week and if we put that into practice on the pitch then I’ll be happy.”

Holdsworth has no new injury concerns ahead of today’s game but Martyn Giles is still missing through illness so Jamie Collins is likely to continue at left-back.

His main selection headache will be up front where Craig Reid, Sam Foley and Charlie Henry will be under pressure from Dave Gilroy, Kerry Morgan and Ashan Holgate.

The latter trio all impressed in the FA Trophy victory over Braintree last Saturday, with Gilroy and Morgan getting goals in a 2-1 win, and they must all be in contention to start as County return to league action.

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