NEWPORT County manager Justin Edinburgh admits his players face an uphill battle to beat the drop on current form.

The new Exiles boss saw his side slump to a 3-0 defeat to Southport in his first match in charge at Spytty Park on Saturday.

And with a tough trip to promotion favourites Fleetwood Town tomorrow Edinburgh knows he needs to end a run of 12 league games without a win as quickly as possible.

"We couldn’t have got off to a worse start and we’re quite aware of what is ahead of us now," said the former Rushden & Diamonds manager.

"It’s not going to be pretty at times but we have got to roll up our sleeves and realise we are in a dogfight.

"We can’t argue with the scoreline. We certainly didn’t test their goalkeeper enough and I was disappointed with the manner of the goals we conceded.

"But we can’t be too down. We’ve got to remain positive otherwise we’re never going to get out of it. I certainly am as a person – you have to be."

Are his players good enough to survive in the Conference? "On paper – yes but on the pitch at the moment – no," was his honest answer before reiterating that he will give everyone a chance to impress before deciding where he needs to add and subtract from the squad.

After such a disappointing start Edinburgh conceded that he could have done without tomorrow’s clash with big-spending Fleetwood.

"If I could have picked it I would have liked a free week because there is a lot of hard work to be done on the training-ground," he said.

"I’m looking for character and desire. We must realise we’re in a battle and we’re not going to be able to play too much football.

"The players have got to trust in what I’m trying to put across.

"That hasn’t been easy in a few days but I knew the size of the task when I came here. The position we’re in is why I got the job and it’s going to be a battle.

"I knew certain individuals from playing against them. I’d only worked with one of the players so it’s a work in progress, but I know it’s not pre-season and points need to be collected soon.

"If we need to play direct and ugly then that is what we’ll have to do.

"We need to get some points on the board as quickly as possible."

If he was less than impressed with many of his players, Edinburgh was full of praise for the County fans on Saturday.

"The fans were superb," he added. "They never once turned on the players, which I would have expected if I was playing in that game.

"The fans will play a big part but we have to show a bit more than that to get them excited."

Edinburgh will be without left-back Lee Baker for Fleetwood after he dislocated his shoulder on Saturday but he hopes to have midfielder David Pipe back.

"Chopping and changing isn’t the way to go at this stage so we’re going to be fairly consistent (with team selection)," he said.

"But we’ve lost Bakes, who’s going to need an operation on a dislocated shoulder, and that is a major blow for the boy because he’s had a tough time.

"We’re hopeful on David Pipe. He’s improving and he’s got a fantastic attitude.

"He was close to playing, and if not Tuesday he should be back for next Saturday. We need a few more like him out there."