JOSH Sheehan's second-minute goal was cancelled out by Dan Potts' header as Newport County AFC and Luton Town battled to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade. Here's what we learned...

1. Collins can make a difference

A whopping 789 days after his last start for County and 73 days on from re-joining his hometown club on loan, Aaron Collins made an immediate impact against Luton.

The 20-year-old took out all his frustration on the Hatters, terrifying the visiting defence with his direct running to make the first goal for Sheehan and almost create a second for Robbie Willmott.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee was quieter after the break but his performance excited the Exiles fans and suggested he can be a big player in the final nine matches of the season.

2. Sheehan offers real goal threat from midfield

After breaking the deadlock at Yeovil Town last week, the midfielder repeated the trick at Rodney Parade eight days on.

Playing in an advanced central midfield role he showed his goalscoring instincts by following up Collins’ shot before expertly controlling the ball and firing in the rebound.

After a slow start to his second spell at the club, the 22-year-old is starting to show the kind of form that marked him out as a shining light in a dark period last season.

3. County can match the best without Labadie

If his injury is as bad as is feared it’s a major blow for Joss Labadie and for the club at the business end of the season.

The skipper has been one of the club’s best performers all season and he will undoubtedly be missed but his teammates produced a superb performance in his absence yesterday.

County matched the promotion favourites blow for blow in all departments, with Sheehan, Matty Dolan and Ben Tozer working well together in central midfield.

4. Nouble has a new lease of life as an impact sub

After his game-changing cameo at Yeovil Town last week, Frank Nouble was again cast in the role of super sub against Luton.

With Paul Hayes ruled out, Nouble might have expected a return to the starting XI but a formation change saw Collins preferred to him, Shawn McCoulsky and Marlon Jackson.

Nouble looked fired up after his introduction on 70 minutes, worrying the visiting defence and going close to forcing a winner late on.

5. Top seven that little bit further away

The Exiles are now seven points below the play-off places with nine games left to play and 27 points up for grabs.

With so much ground to make up a top-seven finish becomes less likely with each dropped point but Michael Flynn’s men will beat most sides at home if they perform as they did against Luton.

And with six games still to play at Rodney Parade, including the visits of fellow promotion-hopefuls Coventry City and Swindon Town, there is still plenty to fight for.