PROMOTION pressure is a privilege for Joe Day after he returned to Newport County AFC with unfinished business.

The goalkeeper will be hoping for a quiet afternoon against Crawley at Rodney Parade today as the Exiles hunt three points to boost their push for the play-offs, and potentially keep the heat on rivals for the top three.

County sit seventh and need a healthy points tally from their five remaining games given how tight the table is, with the scramble going all the way down to 11th-placed Swindon.

Day returned to Rodney Parade last summer after spending two seasons with Cardiff City, a move that was earned by starring in Newport's promotion challenge in 2019.

The 31-year-old was a fringe figure for the Bluebirds and was sent out on loan for a pair of League One relegation scraps, successfully with AFC Wimbledon in the Covid-shortened 2019/20 campaign and unsuccessfully with Bristol Rovers last season.

"I was on loan and walked into a difficult situation, trying to do my best for them," said Day.

"This is totally different, I am back at Newport and trying to deliver success at the right end of the table.

"Ultimately there is a pressure to perform but as a professional footballer if you can't relish that pressure then I don't believe you will do particularly well.

"You have to embrace it, enjoy it and give it everything that you've got."

South Wales Argus:

County have plenty of players with experience of play-off bids and successful promotion challenges.

Day, Matty Dolan, Mickey Demetriou, Scot Bennett and Robbie Willmott were in the 2018/19 squad, Aaron Lewis and Ryan Haynes played at Wembley last season, James Clarke was promoted with Bristol Rovers, Dom Telford went up with Bury, Finn Azaz was a champion at Cheltenham last year.

"There is a strong belief in the group rather than a nervousness," said the goalkeeper. "That is key when the pressure is on into the last five games.

"It's unbelievably tight in the table and it's key we have that belief in what we are doing and what has brought us success, almost a level of calmness.

"Most professionals will tell you that there is a level of nervousness that you need to perform but not so much that it has a negative impact."

That's where the ability to not be obsessed by the table, fixtures and permutations is essential, with Day helped by a busy diary featuring ballet classes and martial arts.

"Switching off at home is different for me with the distractions of the kids at home," he said.

"To be able to give everything that you've got when you are at the training pitch or on matchday, you need to be able to switch off at home.

"You need your family time and the gaffer has been great with that."

Day will hope his Easter weekend starts with three points.

Fixtures: Exeter v Colchester (1pm), Barrow v Forest Green, Bradford v Tranmere, Bristol Rovers v Salford, Harrogate v Swindon, Hartlepool v Port Vale, Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe, Mansfield v Sutton, County v Crawley, Oldham v Northampton, Stevenage v Rochdale, Walsall v Carlisle.