Positive points, but Newport County now need wins

After more than matching Colchester United at home last week, the Exiles frustrated another play-off contender with a defensive display that bodes well for the months ahead.

Sid Nelson and Mark O’Brien continued their impressive starts after moves from Millwall and Luton Town respectively and wing-backs David Pipe and Dan Butler were disciplined in defence.

Darren Jones, who conceded the penalty that let Colchester back into the game last week, redeemed himself at The Hive Stadium by keeping Barnet hotshot John Akinde quiet for the most part.

And goalkeeper Joe Day banished memories of that clanger at Stevenage with a man-of-the-match performance, denying Akinde, Curtis Weston, Simeon Akinola and Nana Kyei.

The save to keep Kyei’s effort out of the top corner of his net was a spectacular tip over the bar at full stretch and showed just how valuable Day can be when on top form.

There was less to cheer about in attack where Aaron Williams and Craig Reid had little to show for the hard yards they put in and Josh Sheehan (above) struggled to make an impact behind the strikers.

Only substitute Alex Samuel, who replaced Mark Randall after just 28 minutes, looked like scoring.

He latched onto a Pipe ball to force Josh Vickers into a rare save on the hour and the Swansea City forward fired just off target moments later.

Those travelling fans not wearing gloves would have been biting their nails in the closing stages as Barnet hammered at the door time and again.

But there was no way through and there was no mistaking which side was happier with a point at the final whistle.

Defeats for Notts County and Cheltenham Town mean Westley’s men have closed the gap on those teams directly above them and moved to within five points of safety.

The truth is, however, that those eight successive defeats between late November and mid-January mean that draws are not enough in County’s current predicament.

Two points against Colchester and Barnet looks positive in isolation but the Exiles need wins and fast to avoid being cut adrift at the bottom.

They cannot let the Magpies and the Robins fly out of reach and that makes the next two games vital.

County host Dave Jones’ Hartlepool United at Rodney Parade next Saturday before travelling to Cheltenham on February 4.

Those are two games that look like must-win encounters for the Exiles, even at this stage of the season.

Even if they win them both they might still be in the bottom two but six points will provide a massive confidence boost for players and fans and strengthen the belief that they can beat the drop.

Anything less than four points would be big disappointment and if they fail to win either – stretching the winless run to 12 games in League Two and 14 in all competitions – it would seriously undermine the progress that has been made over the last two matches.

The addition of new midfielder Mitchell Rose should provide extra impetus in the middle of the park and the return of Sean Rigg from injury will add more cutting edge in the final third.

And, while news of Rhys Healey bagging a last-minute winner for Cardiff City in the Championship on Saturday will have been bittersweet for County fans, Samuel (above) showed enough to suggest he could make just as big an impact as the Bluebirds youngster did at Rodney Parade.

This new-look side have stopped the rot, now they need to show a killer instinct and start putting some wins on the board.

County: Day; Pipe (Demetriou, 83), O’Brien, Jones, Nelson, Butler; Bennett, Randall (Samuel, 28), Sheehan; Williams, Reid (Owen-Evans, 65)

Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb Flynn, Bojaj

Booked: O’Brien

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 2,623 (159 County)