JUSTIN Edinburgh stated we should judge Newport's prospects based on their first 15 Football League games, but to do so on their position in the table wouldn't tell the true story.

Here we are, right at the point I've patiently waited for, adhering to Edinburgh's perfectly reasoned argument that 15 games was the only fair barometer for the Exiles' start to their new life in the Football League.

Not 14, not 16, 32.6% of the League Two campaign is now in the books and the Exiles are mid-table in tenth, and only three points ahead of a side as low as 16th.*

* That side are Portsmouth. Who won the FA Cup and finished in the Premier League top ten five years ago. What a strange game football can be.

At the start of the campaign I tipped Newport to finish almost exactly where they are now, believing that to be more than satisfactory for a debut campaign in a higher division.

That was then. Things have changed. The league table never lies, but it can be misleading and thanks to playing well in 14 of the 15 games, my expectations for this campaign have been raised. It's the same for most of us. Sorry Justin.

Because while Newport are tenth, they are also three points from second and a mere point outside the play-off positions.

They've done that with their top scorer from last season missing the entire campaign, their best player from the first half of last season out for all but two games and their best player in the second half of last season breaking his leg in August.

They've done that with Christian Jolley absent for a stretch, with Lenny Pidgeley missing the start of the season and with a succession of central defensive injuries that has meant Newport, a promoted side built on a solid backline, have never had a settled rearguard.

If the Exiles were hovering around the relegation places, I can almost picture myself defending them in this forum from sniping. It would be totally understandable with such injury woes.

But the fact is, Newport's squad is one that doesn't know or understand underachievement or performance, because as a collective they've shown such resiliency and generally succeeded time and again for 18 months.

Andrew Hughes, David Pipe, Max Porter, Ismail Yakubu and memorably coach Wayne Hatswell all played on March 17, 2012 when the Exiles drew 0-0 at Wealdstone to reach the FA Trophy final. Since that day, Newport's trajectory has only been upward. That was the moment a winning mentality began to appear in the football club time forgot.

Now it is Cardiff and Swansea, then Newport, then Wrexham. Back then it was Cardiff and Swansea, then Wrexham, then Newport and Merthyr and Colywn Bay.

I have such faith in this collective currently assembled at Rodney Parade that I can't help but feel they are only going to improve. The Exiles have 23 points from 15 games, but I expect them to have more than 46 after 30.

I expected a great proportion of the County squad to look extremely comfortable in League Two, but some players have massively exceeded my expectations.

Among that list would be Andrew Hughes, Lee Minshull, Robbie Willmott, Chris Zebroski and of course Conor Washington who have been stand out performers so far.

In the coming weeks and months, it will be great to see Aaron O'Connor, Christian Jolley, Max Porter, Byron Anthony and Andy Sandell make their returns.

The Exiles will potentially have plenty of depth and we should also remember we are yet to see anything of Ryan Burge.

County, injury woes considered, being new to the division considered, having a comparatively small budget considered, have been competitive in 14 out 15 league games. They've also beaten a Championship and League One side and acquitted themselves well against a Premier League team in the cups.

Edinburgh stated this as the point for judgement and I'm officially changing my pre-season prediction for County.

I think they'll finish in the top seven and at the very least take their league campaign into 47th and 48th games, but that's an at least prediction.

Just like last year, I believe the Exiles are good enough to challenge for automatic promotion. Remember, there would have been no need for the all-Welsh Wembley showdown if three teams went up automatically from the Conference.

I've been made only too aware in the past few weeks that the players at County do indeed take notice of what is written in the Argus. Attending training the Thursday after giving every player 5/10 at Rochdale was less fun than going to the dentist.

But if you set high standards for 18 months, that's what happens. People judge you by the standards you've set.

In this instance, I'm merely speaking for the people. In 2011-12, Newport averaged 1394 for a home game. That rose to 2547 in Edinburgh's first full season at Rodney Parade, a truly glorious one, and the Exiles are edging close to 4000 this term, so far averaging 3824, the 11th best in League Two and miles above that of the league leaders.

New people came to County out of curiosity, or because they enjoyed their day at Wembley and old faces have returned, but the crucial thing is that they've stayed.

They haven't done so because they think County under Edinburgh are a mid-table League Two side.

Expectations are high. Sorry lads.