‘IF AT first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again’ goes the old proverb and Newport County AFC striker Chris Zebroski says he’s ready for a “rugby match” against Mansfield Town tonight.

In oval ball parlance the Exiles need to front up against the Stags in what is sure to be physical encounter.

Justin Edinburgh’s men are desperate to get their first points on the board in League Two after a 2-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers and Saturday’s agonising 3-2 loss after leading 2-0 at Morecambe.

Zebroski came off the bench in the second half at the Globe Arena after recovering from a groin strain but couldn’t turn the tide against the Shrimps.

Now he’s ready to start at Field Mill and he’s up for a battle against County’s old foes.

County lost 2-1 in Mansfield in March when Zebroski was one of seven players booked.

And in the home clash at Rodney Parade last September it ended 1-1 after Zebroski’s opener and one red card apiece with both Lee Minshull and Stags striker Matt Rhead sent off.

“It’s going to be a fight against Mansfield,” said Zebroski.

“It always is; it was more of a rugby match than a football match the last time we played them.

“We know what to expect; they’ll be direct and physical and we’ve got to be up for the fight.

“We have to roll our sleeves up and show what we’re made of.”

Zebroski says the Exiles players are hurting after Saturday’s defeat at Morecambe and they want to bounce back immediately tonight.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted and it’s bitterly disappointing to go home with nothing having gone all that way,” he said of the long trip north at the weekend.

“But we’ve got to bounce back. We’ve done it before and I’m sure we can do it again.

“It’s going to be a fight against Mansfield but we’ll be ready for that and the gaffer will be looking for a response.

“We have to try to get some points on the board as soon as possible.

“But we’re only two games in,” he added. “It’s still early days. We had a bad end to last season and we don’t want this bad start to go on too long.”

Zebroski started against his former club Wycombe on the opening day but missed the Capital One Cup defeat at Reading a week ago.

“It was good to get on and get some minutes at Morecambe,” he said. “I missed the game at Reading with a groin strain and I didn’t train for five days.

“I thought I might get a chance at the end but it never came and it wasn’t to be. I’m fit and ready to start now at Mansfield.”