NEWPORT County striker Christian Jolley only wants one thing for Christmas... a goal, writes Michael Pearlman.

The former Wimbledon man scored 15 times for Newport last term despite only joining the Exiles in January after an initial loan spell and was instrumental in the club's dramatic promotion in the play-offs, scoring in both the semi final and final.

However, incredibly, Jolley's only goal of the campaign this term came on the opening day of the season as County thrashed Accrington Stanley 4-1.

An injury that sidelined him from September to the beginning of November has curtailed his form and Jolley admits he's getting frustrated at the long wait for a goal.

"I am getting there slow and steady, I think I showed glimpses, I feel like I'm getting back to my sharpest," he said.

"I am getting my consistency back, that's the key, it was good to get 90 minutes in my legs.

"I would love a goal, I would love to score, but I was happy with Tuesday, I had a few shots and they were on target, I clutch on to them and hopefully the goal is coming soon.

"I haven't been at my best, I had a great pre-season and then basically broke down two games into the season which knocks you massively.

"With the injury, it feels like I haven't been performing for a long time, it's about mental strength now, I have to stick with it.

"The boys have been playing really well and I've been out the team and now it's about using my attributes without disrupting what they've been doing so well."

Jolley is excited by Newport's next game, a trip to 2008 FA Cup winners Pompey at Fratton Park.

"I've never played at Portsmouth, it should be a brilliant game and an immense atmosphere, there was speculation about me joining Portsmouth back when I was at Wimbledon but I'm very happy I am ended up at Newport."

Jolley felt the Exiles were harshly done by on Tuesday in only their second home defeat of the campaign.

"It was hard to take, it wasn't a 3-0 game, it was disappointing but we take positives from the performance because we were ten times better than we were on Saturday against Kidderminster," he said.

"We had a lot of possession but they were just a bit more clinical.

"It is frustrating, their goalkeeper was excellent, he's a solid number one and we moved the ball well, there was a good pace about us and we switched the ball really quickly, we tried every way to score but it didn't go our way.

"It's new for us, having trouble scoring, we just have to keep working hard and it'll come."