MARK Byrne insists Newport County are determined to remain in the play-off spots this term and insists the players are confident they can achieve that objective.

The Exiles have moved back into the top seven in League Two in what is certain to be a pivotal week with both Mansfield and Stevenage to face.

First up for County is the Tuesday clash with the Stags at Rodney Parade and Byrne insists County are back where they expect to finish.

“It’s a massive win from us, we said from last week that we needed to get back into the play-off spots straight away and we’ve managed to do that, it was a great effort,” he said.

“Once we got the goal they were trying to break us down but we had two banks of four and worked hard, grafted and we deserved it.

“We knew they were going to be up for it after losing in midweek but we were so disappointed after the Morecambe game, but everyone put a shift in today.

“We would rather play the top sides every week, we’d get more wins!”

However, Byrne knows that Saturday’s win will count for little if the Exiles can’t heap more pressure on Mansfield, who won’t be able to select on-loan County keeper Lenny Pidgeley.

“But the key now for us is to follow-up a good win by starting to get our home form back together, with three points on Tuesday, however we get it,” Byrne explained.

“We had two bad away defeats and were then a bit unlucky against Shrewsbury and against Morecambe they sat in against us after scoring and on Tuesday night we need to go for it a bit more.

“Hopefully we’ve answered a few critics by winning at Burton, you can never count us out, we are back in the play-offs after a massive win and now the main thing is to follow it up with a further one.”

Byrne is also relishing his new role in County’s side, working as a right winger in tandem with full-back Ryan Jackson.

It is a role familiar to Byrne from his Barnet days and he’s happy to play wherever asked by boss Jimmy Dack.

“I put a shift in playing on the right wing, I’ve played there before and it is fine by me once I’m on the teamsheet, but at the moment it is working for us, playing with narrow wingers,” he explained.

“It has helped Jacko out, he wants to be on his own attacking and I’ll tuck-in and cover him in behind, hopefully it can be effective for us.

“We just need to keep winning and that’s the main objective.”