NEWPORT County midifielder Lee Minshull admits the Exiles must beat promotion rivals Luton Town tonight to remain in the hunt for League Two promotion.

The Exiles were held at home to strugglers Cheltenham on Friday evening, meaning that have now failed to register a win in five successive games at Rodney Parade.

And with the Hatters also in poor form and just ahead of County who could move within a point of them with a win tonight, Minshull admits the time is now for the Exiles if they are to get on the run they so desperately need to re-invigorate their campaign.

“Luton is especially important, it means so much to take points off the teams around you,” Minshull told the Argus.

“We will prepare as we do for every game and hopefully can get that three points.

“I like a midweek fixture, as soon as the previous game is gone you can focus on the next and this is a huge one for us and for them.

“Hopefully we will be raring to go on Tuesday.

“The result on Friday puts more pressure on us to get a win against Luton, especially as they are promotion rivals.

“At this stage, every game is a must win one.

“Obviously we are still searching for that victory to put us on a run and we really need it to come this week.”

Minshull felt the Exiles lacked for luck as much as quality on Friday after Miles Storey’s header put them back in the contest.

“It was good to get back on track before the end of the half, it’s a point gained, but we have to push on now,” he said.

“We got a goal of real quality and it gave us a lift on Friday, we gave it a go in the second half but at the moment the ball isn’t falling for us, we aren’t getting that little bounce or bit of luck.

“It was good to see Miles score and maybe it’ll be the start for our strikers, it was a quality goal and gave us a lift.

“It was disappointing not to get that second goal, because we had the platform by going in level at half time.

“We feel like we are doing the right things, but sometimes when the opposition are hanging on with everyone defending, you do need a little luck as well.

“We aren’t intentionally starting games badly, we should be enjoying what we are doing and not feeling any pressure. We have to start games better, because when we go 1-0 up, we are incredibly hard to beat.”