NEWPORT County AFC utility man Scot Bennett insists beating bogey side Morecambe tonight is far more important that Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

Bennett, who has been equally at home in central defence and central midfield this season, has been an ever-present since the Boxing Day defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

County followed that 2-0 reverse with a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town in their final match of 2017 and 2018 has seen them record four successive 2-1 victories.

The FA Cup third round win over Leeds United ensured the Exiles booked a mouth-watering fourth round tie at home to Spurs.

But before the Premier League giants come to town this Saturday, Michael Flynn’s men are up against Morecambe at Rodney Parade tonight.

A win is essential if they are to keep pace with their League Two play-off rivals and they will also want to get one over on Morecambe after a desperately poor display in defeat at the Globe Arena last September.

“Our priority is the league and we’ll be looking to get three points again,” said Bennett, who scored County’s goal in their 2-1 defeat in Morecambe.

“The performance on the day was not good enough up there, we all know that.

“We’ll be looking to turn them over this time and pick up the three points to put ourselves in a good position.

“Morecambe have been a bit of a bogey side and we’ll be looking to put that right.”

Asked about the Spurs tie, Bennett added: “I think everyone wants to play in that game so it’s imperative for us to concentrate on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we get the three points and then we can focus on that big game on Saturday.”

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Midfield duo Joss Labadie and Matty Dolan missed Friday’s win over Crawley Town and Bennett says competition for places is as strong as it’s been during his time at the club.

“You look at the squad now and we’ve got competition for every position whereas maybe last year we had the 11 and then one or two on the bench,” said the 27-year-old, who first arrived on loan in 2015.

“Now we’ve got people in the stands who are capable of being in the first team.

“Everyone has got to knuckle down and keep hold of their shirts now.”

County are up to ninth in the table after the weekend games, two points below the top-seven.

“The play-offs is definitely realistic,” said Bennett. “That’s what we’re going to be aiming for now.

“We’ve put ourselves in a really good position and it’s just about kicking on now in the second half of the season and making sure we pick up the points.

“We’ve had the capability all season and now we’re starting to dig deep when we concede in the second half,” he added.

“Before we crumbled a little bit and allowed teams to get back into the game but now we’re managing to dig deep and get the three points.”