MICKEY Demetriou believes it’s imperative that Newport County AFC take their cup form into the league following impressive displays against higher-level opposition since the turn of the year.

The Exiles will have dusted themselves down after last Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City and head north to Meadow Lane tonight hoping to see off League Two’s bottom club Notts County.

Defender Demetriou and his teammates have won just twice in their last 11 league fixtures, leaving them 15th in the table, nine points off the final play-off place which is held by Carlisle United.

You have to go all the way back to September 22 for their previous away success in the league, a 1-0 triumph at Tranmere Rovers thanks to Fraser Franks’ early match-winner.

“It’s back to the bread and butter of the league now and we need to win a few games, starting against Notts Cou-nty,” said Demetriou.

“It’s a huge one for us.

“We’ve just got to take the momentum from the FA Cup and try to perform a lot better in the league than we have been.

“There’s always one team that has a late run to get in the play-offs and hopefully that can be us this year.”

Holding the reigning Premier League champions and current leaders of English football’s top flight until the 51st minute at Rodney Parade will have served as a huge fillip for the Exiles’ defence. And while they ultimately conceded four times against Pep Guardiola’s superstars, Demetriou and co can take pride in their brave performance and never-say-die attitude.

“The boys defended brilliantly for 90 minutes, it was just that they took their chances right at the end when we were trying to get a draw,” added Demetriou.

“It’s disappointing to lose but we were up against world-class players and we did ourselves proud.

“It was always going to be a tough game because they’re champions of England and one of the best teams in the world.

“They’ve got world-class players, World Cup winners and European Championship winners.

“We had a little conversation with Guardiola on the pitch at the end and he congratulated us on what we’ve done this year and hoped we do well in the league.

“To hear that from probably the best manager in the world obviously means a lot.”

Demetriou is also excited to see how the financial rewards from the cup run can benefit the Exiles.

He said: “Obviously it’s a big financial boost for the club and helps set them up for a few more years.

“It maybe gives the gaffer a bigger budget for next season and we can have a right good go.”