NEWPORT County AFC defender Kevin Feely says the players need to approach their remaining nine games with the same attitude they had against Luton Town in midweek, writes Andrew Penman.

County beat the sixth-placed Hatters 1-0 on Tuesday to move to move level on points with seventh-placed Stevenage and they are at Plymouth Argyle, another play-off rival, this afternoon.

Having won at League Two leaders Burton Albion and third-placed Wycombe Wanderers last month, the Exiles have nothing to fear at Home Park.

But Feely says they have to treat all opponents with the same respect after failing to beat struggling Tranmere Rovers, Mansfield Town and Cheltenham Town in recent weeks.

“I don’t know what that pattern is about. Maybe we just prefer being underdogs,” said the Irish under-21 international.

“Our attitude going into games where we know we’re playing strong teams is usually spot-on and we’ve reaped the rewards.

“We have to bring that attitude into the rest of the games this season as well.

“In the position we’re in now every game is vital until the end of the season.

“If we can get those six or seven wins we need then we’ll be delighted but the only way we’re going to do that is if we approach each game with the attitude we approached the Luton game.”

Feely says the first home win since January 10 has reinforced the belief that County can seal a top-seven finish.

“It’s great for morale to get a home win and the clean sheet was a big boost for the defence as well because it’s been ages since we’ve had one,” said the 22-year-old.

“We’ve always believed that we have the ability to get into the play-offs.

“We’ve had a bit of trouble with injuries and maintaining the right attitude coming into games but beating Luton should hopefully make the fans have a bit more faith as well.”

After an injury-hit campaign Feely is delighted to be back in the side and playing in a 5-3-2 formation again, even if it does mean extra work.

“It’s been frustrating not being able to play regularly due to injuries and suspensions so hopefully now I can maintain some kind of consistency and stay in the team until the end of the season,” he said.

“Playing 5-3-2 at home is a positive statement I think because you can really pen teams in but there is also enough numbers in defence to cope when the opposition get on top.

“In a way I find it harder work than playing in a 4-4-2 because you can get dragged out to full-back and have to do a lot more one-on-one defending.

“But I think that’s just because our wing-backs are so great going forward and we have to give them that licence to attack.”