NEWPORT County boss Peter Beadle is promising his side can perform much better despite soaring into the Conference South playoff positions.

The Exiles have moved up to fourth in the league after beating Braintree at the weekend, winning 2-0 for the third time in a week.

Beadle's boys have kept clean sheets in six of their opening ten games this season, but Beadle sees his side getting even better as the weeks go by.

Just a fortnight ago some supporters were criticising the manager after successive away defeats, but Beadle insists his team are just getting started.

"I still think we can get much better, on Saturday I thought we were sloppy at times and a little bit lethargic, particularly in the first half," he explained.

"We didn't quite get a rhythm going and sometimes playing against ten men makes it a little harder.

"We needed to be sharper and more clinical, we sat too deep in the first half and we were giving the ball to the wide players in the wrong positions, so they weren't able to support the strikers.

"We improved that as the game went on and in the second half we showed more patience and professionalism.

"At times we are frustrating and I think we can be much better.

"I told the players what I thought, just because we won 2-0 and have won three on the game doesn't mean we can't improve.

"Teams will expect us to be tough, physical and energetic and we don't want to show them differently and help to get our opponents tails up."

Beadle was pleased that with the game at a stalemate his attacking substitution - replacing defender Damon Searle with striker Craig Hughes - paid off..

"It was in my mind to do it but I said to Youngy (assistant Scott Young) beforehand that the Newport of old would have done it and lost 1-0," he said.

"But I asked the players to be brave and believe in themselves so I have to trust them.

"It all fell into place in the end and I am delighted Craig got his goal.

"Braintree were very defensive and it was hard to break them down, but we deserved to win the game."