FA CUP hero Joe Day is confident Newport County AFC can overcome Wrexham in next week’s second-round replay after frustrating the National League side on Saturday.

The hosts had the better of the chances at The Racecourse with Day in inspired form between the posts for County.

The goalkeeper, who pulled off stunning saves to deny Bobby Grant and prevent a Jamille Matt own goal, admitted that the Exiles performed poorly but he believes they will get the job done at the second attempt.

“We always expected it to be a difficult night,” said Day. “They’re going well in their league and they don’t concede many.

“Their games have been tight so that was what we were expecting.

“It was a difficult one and I don’t think we ever really got going, which is the most disappointing thing.

“I can’t put my finger on it,” he added. “We did everything right, we planned everything as professionally and as well as we could and we were confident going into the game that we’d perform but unfortunately we didn’t get out of first gear.

“The most positive thing I can say is that we’re still in the cup.”

The replay at Rodney Parade is scheduled for next Tuesday night but that could change if the tie is selected for live TV coverage once again.

Whenever it is played, Day is optimistic about County’s chances.

“It depends on how you look at it,” said the 28-year-old stopper. “Wrexham will feel they’ve played well and not got the win, whereas we didn’t play well but we didn’t get beaten.

“I think they’ll see it as a missed opportunity on their turf.

“We’ll see it as an opportunity gained to beat them at our place.

“We’re still in it and we’ve got to be confident that we can beat them at Rodney Parade.

“It’s another clean sheet and hopefully we can take some positives from that going into another cup game and a big league game.

“We’ll take that into those games and hopefully kick on.”

Michael Flynn’s men are in Checkatrade Trophy second-round action at Cheltenham Town tomorrow night before going to Swindon Town in League Two at the weekend.

And Day is one of a number of players who could be rested tomorrow.

“The games are coming thick and fast – we’re playing in three different competitions in a week so I’m sure the manager will have to rotate,” he said.

“There will be players that need a rest and those that need minutes will get them.”

Day’s deputy Nick Townsend could well start at Whaddon Road but he will find it difficult to dislodge the Exiles number one on current form.

Speaking to iFollow Exiles, striker Padraig Amond was glowing in his praise of the goalkeeper’s performance at Wrexham.

"He was excellent,” said Amond. “People were raving about the first save he made but I think the better one is where he scooped it off the line in the second-half.

"He works really, really hard on his flexibility and that’s where that save comes from. How he gets there I don’t know, I certainly couldn’t do that – I’m a bit stiff!

"But that’s why we have the best goalkeeper in the league. I’ve said it before, he’s in a very, very tough position because if a goalkeeper makes a mistake then it’s highlighted so much more.

"I could make 10 mistakes in a game but if I score one goal then I’m a hero. If Joe makes one mistake, he’s a villain and it’s all his fault.

"He’s an excellent goalkeeper and he deserves all the plaudits he gets."

The Exiles will share ball number 47 with Wrexham in tonight's third-round draw, which will take place at Stamford Bridge and will be shown live on BBC One from 7.30pm.