MANAGER Graham Westley believes a frantic February will be crucial for Newport County AFC in their battle to avoid relegation from League Two.

The shortest month is the busiest for the Exiles with seven matches in 25 days and it started with a late leveller to earn a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

The point, courtesy of substitute Jaanai Gordon’s 93rd-minute equaliser, extends County’s unbeaten run to four matches and leaves them three points from safety with a game in hand.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Westley, ahead of Friday night’s bottom v top clash with leaders Doncaster Rovers at Rodney Parade.

“There’s loads of football to be played, loads of points to be won and we’re four unbeaten so we’re obviously going to go into games with a lot of confidence.

“The players are working very hard and they’re producing a good standard of League Two football.

“They’re a tough nut to crack now, which is exactly the way you’d want them to be, and we’re looking forward to the games ahead.”

Westley praised the character shown by his side to fight back after Kyle Wootton had put the hosts ahead against the run of play on 62 minutes when captain Scot Bennet was receiving treatment for a knee injury.

“It was probably an unfortunate point in the sense that over the 90 minutes I thought we were the better side and deserved to win,” said the boss.

“We were the side that was showing more intent to win.

“We lost the goal when we were down to 10 men. Benno was on the sideline and a little bit of confusion led to the ball ending up in our net.

“With where we are we could have felt sorry for ourselves.

“With the way things had been going we could have let the game slip.

“But we didn’t, we pulled ourselves together, made a couple of changes, got ourselves on the front foot and we were relentless in chasing the equaliser.”

The manager also talked up the part played by the 841 traveling fans at Whaddon Road.

“They were amazing,” added Westley. “You would never believe that we’re a club that is 92nd in the Football League when you see the quality of support, both in number and voice.

“They were astonishing and they know the importance that they’re going to play in our rise and they’re playing it.

“It’s really magical to have that kind of support around you and behind you.

“It does work both ways, it’s a two-way street – when players are giving to the game, fans sense it.

“And I think the fans knew that the players were hungry – they could smell blood and they knew that there was something there to be won.

“They lifted the players and the players lifted them and it was a rousing finale.”