STRIKER Rene Howe says Newport County AFC fans should not panic after two bad defeats on the road and insists the promotion push is still on track.

The Exiles were beaten 3-0 at Northampton Town last Saturday, seven days after losing 4-0 at Cambridge United.

Howe says confidence has not been affected and he is certain that there will be no repeat of last season’s slump.

But he admits Justin Edinburgh’s men must stop the rot against second-placed Shrewsbury tomorrow afternoon.

“Northampton was one of those games where we conceded two cheap goals and there was no real coming back from that,” said the 28-year-old.

“But everyone is still pretty confident. I don’t think there is a confidence issue. It did tail off really badly last season but that shouldn’t happen this time.

“We’re still in sixth and we can be back up to third soon if results go our way.

“We’re working hard, not that we weren’t working hard last season,” he added. “We’re working hard on our mistakes – like defending set-pieces.

“We want to stop conceding silly goals from corners and everyone has been at it in training.

“Don’t panic is the message. With the run that we’ve been on you would expect to lose eventually.

“But we’re up there for a reason and we shouldn’t change what we’ve been doing.

“We’re in a great position, better than we were at this time last season, and it’s important that the fans stay behind us and help us out as well.

“This is a massive game for us. Shrewsbury are up there as well and we need to win.

“We’ve played well against the top sides and we need to give our fans something to shout about at home, get a win and push back up the table again.

“I think we’ll rise to the occasion.”

Howe played 68 minutes at Northampton last week but may drop down to the bench tomorrow with Aaron O’Connor fit to start after illness and new signing Mile Storey set to feature.

The former Burton Albion front man scored in Tuesday’s development game at Plymouth Argyle but is still recovering his match fitness following a lengthy absence with a thigh injury.

“This is the first real injury I’ve had that has kept me out for months and when I first came back I didn’t feel sharp and I was probably pushed into it a little,” he explained.

“I went on for 20 minutes here and there to get some minutes in and I’ve gradually built up to playing 70 minutes like I did last weekend and in midweek.

“It was my second goal in three games for the development team, which is good for my morale.”