CAPTAIN Joss Labadie has warned Newport County AFC about the danger of taking relegated Southend lightly as they bid to avoid last day drama in the race for the League Two play-offs.

The fifth-placed Exiles need a point from their trip to Roots Hall on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) to secure a top-seven finish.

If they slip up against Southend, who were relegated last weekend, then they risk dropping out of the play-off spots for the first time since matchday three.

Tranmere are level on points, Forest Green Rovers are two back and Exeter are three behind with better goal difference. Salford remain in the hunt but cannot catch County.

The Exiles are in a great position thanks to Labadie’s strike in a 1-0 win against leaders Cheltenham on Saturday and the skipper is looking to finish the job in style against the Shrimpers, hunting a win that would also give them home advantage in the second leg of the play-offs.

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“It's still in our hands and we are confident,” said Labadie. “It's business as usual – we will go into that game like any other, looking to get three points.

“They are down already but will not just roll over and just let us turn up and do what we want.

"We will apply ourselves in the right way like we have the last few games and try to get the three points.”

Complacency won’t be an issue for Michael Flynn’s side but footage of the 1-0 defeat to Southend when the sides met at Rodney Parade in February, a smash and grab job, would serve as a timely reminder.

Saturday’s hosts were condemned to the drop despite winning at Barrow last weekend and they have lost just one of their last six games.

“They have been relegated and I am not sure what the morale will be like in their camp but they beat us here,” said Labadie.

“They are no mugs, they won't be pushovers and we have to apply ourselves like in any other game.”

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If County match their recent efforts then they should avoid any last-day slips – they have beaten Crawley, Scunthorpe and Cheltenham and draw against rivals Exeter.

The Exiles have kept four clean sheets on the spin to ensure that they remain in control of their own fate on last day, with that hopefully boding well for what could come after Southend.

“We just need to keep doing what we are doing, me and a few of the other senior players will keep driving the lads on,” said Labadie. “We will keep maintaining those standards.

“We have hit a good bit of form at the right time in the season. We will be looking to maintain that.

“We are very confident in our ability as a team, we are positive we can get a result against anyone.”