ROBBIE Willmott is not expecting the warmest of welcomes from the home fans when he returns to former club Cambridge United with Newport County AFC this Saturday.

Midfielder Willmott signed his first professional contract while a U’s player in December 2007 and went on to make more than 100 appearances for the Abbey Stadium outfit in two spells there.

Cambridge supporters got to see Willmott in action less than a fortnight ago when he came off the bench in County’s FA Cup second round win over Shaun Derry’s men at Rodney Parade.

Looking forward to the weekend’s League Two encounter, Willmott told iFollow Exiles: “I’ve obviously played there previously in my career so it’s a tough place to go, they are a physical side.

“The crowd make it hostile for us and I’m sure I’ll get a bad reception, so I look forward to that one!”

He added: “It would be great to win because they always put a decent team out.

“They always seem to just miss out at the end of the season and always seem to put a bad run of form together to miss out on the play-offs.

“But they’ve got good quality and I think it’s like any team in this division, if you click on the day then you can beat anyone.

“It’s like us, if we click on the day then there is no reason why we can’t go to Cambridge and win 3-0.”

South Wales Argus:

Willmott was used in a defensive midfield role by County boss Michael Flynn against Carlisle United last Saturday.

The Cumbrians managed to breach the Newport rearguard three times during the 3-3 Rodney Parade thriller, but Matt Dolan’s two free-kicks earned the hosts a point.

“The gaffer said before the game that it was probably one of the biggest tests this year,” added Willmott.

“I wasn’t here last year but he said that they played us off the park and they almost always make the play-offs.

“I think we played well and dominated the game, apart from the first 10 minutes.

“Then it was just three bad mistakes that cost us, and we haven’t been like that previously.

“That isn’t in our nature and we just have to rectify that in training this week.

“It is a disappointment because we were in a winning position at half-time.

“We were controlling the game, controlling the tempo in the midfield, so it is a tough point to take.

“But it’s still a point. We would have liked all three but there are some positives to take and we’ll carry that form into the next game and see what we can do.”

And on his new role, he continued: “The gaffer put me in a different role, to screen and to sit as a two with Matty Dolan.

“It’s not my usual position. I’m happy though, I get on the ball and try to make things happen.

“I try to destroy any creativity they have and that’s what I had to do.

“For me, it’s just about staying 100 per cent professional, keeping my head and doing a job for the team.”