NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Westley hailed a “determined and very dogged performance” from his side, which earned a 0-0 draw at play-off hopefuls Barnet.

Westley was impressed with the way his team defended and frustrated their hosts and also praised goalkeeper Joe Day for a succession of superb saves in the second half.

After eight straight defeats in League Two, the Exiles have now secured two draws in a row but they remain five points from safety at the bottom of the table.

“Before you become a winning side you’ve got to become an unbeaten side,” said Westley.

“You’ve got to be a side that is difficult to play against and cares about its clean sheets.

“And I think in the last couple of games you’ve seen a side that’s worked very hard at the defensive aspects.

“We’re not giving away silly free-kicks, we’re working, we’re standing on our feet and I think we gave away eight fouls in 90 minutes, which is testament to the hard work that the players out in.

“There weren’t flailing legs and lazy challenges, there was a lot of work ethic, discipline and organisation.”

Westley named the same starting XI that had drawn 1-1 with Colchester United last week and he was happy with the way his defence coped with League Two top scorer John Akinde.

“Akinde didn’t really look his normal self because we defended very well,” he said.

“We knew when you go away from home you’re always going to be under the cosh to some degree but I thought it was a very determined and a very dogged performance.

“They had 25 attempts at goal and five of those were on target, which is testament to the quality of the defensive work that we put in,” added Westley.

“And when Joe was called on he showed the quality that he’s got.

“Every now and then you want your goalkeeper to do something magic.

“You want your striker to do it at one end and your goalkeeper at the other.

“And he certainly did everything that you could possible ask of him.”

Westley, who withdrew midfielder Mark Randall after 28 minutes due to illness, is set to further strengthen his squad before next week’s home clash with Hartlepool United.