JUSTIN Edinburgh believes his squad’s never say die attitude will prove vital as the club push for a second successive promotion.

The ex-Spurs defender couldn’t hide his satisfaction after Lee Minshull rescued County from the dead at Accrington Stanley.

The Exiles led through Robbie Willmott’s freekick from nearly 30 yards that flew through the wall, before gifting the hosts a route back into the match with two sloppy goals conceded before half time.

A stunning solo effort from Ryan Burge on his full debut put Newport back on level terms but they appeared to be heading to a third successive league defeat – for the first time under boss Edinburgh – when Peter Murphy headed home unmarked from a corner with 88 minutes played.

However, County had one last Houdini act in their locker and Willmott’s fine cross – on the day he agreed a new 18-month deal with the Exiles – was converted by Lee Minshull in added on time.

Edinburgh is hopeful it can act as a building block for his side as they bid for an unlikely double promotion.

"It looked at one stage like we would lose but credit to the players as they continued to press for an equaliser and deserved it," said Edinburgh.

"We could have lost so to come away with a point away from home is a good result and you have got to be happy.

"But, when you score three away from home, you expect to win, and we are disappointed with the goals we conceded but hopefully we can kick on from this.

"It's a long time since we have lost two on the run and we haven't lost three on the trot in my time here.

"I felt we had lost our belief a little bit, which is strange, and we spoke about it at half-time, with honest words, and they answered the questions in the second half and this could be a big point for us.

"This is a platform to build on and we go on to our next home game and look to collect three points."

Edinburgh was pleased with the contribution of two players making their full debut for the club, new signing Rene Howe and injury-hit midfielder Burge.

“Rene was very good, his link-up play was excellent and I thought he complimented Conor Washington very well,” he said.

“He was threatening, we need to get him match fit, there is more to come, but it was a very good debut.

“Ryan has been really patient with injury, but he showed glimpses of why we got him to the football club.

“He put in a really solid performance with Lee Minshull who is another one I was very pleased with.

“Lee Minshull seems to be a player who changes with the weather. This is the time in the season he comes to the fore.”

Edinburgh felt most sides couldn’t have come back from conceding on 88 minutes.

“We showed immense character to come back twice in the game, I am proud of the players,” he said.

“After two defeats we could easily have fizzled out but we came back and got a deserved equaliser.... and not many teams could do that.

“We have injured players on the way back, there is a lot of competition when that happens and I think it’ll come at just the right time.”