NEW signing Andy Gurney admits Newport County need to rediscover their form quickly or wave goodbye to any chance of promotion.

The Exiles put in an abject performance in Sunday's 3-1 home reverse to Blue Square South leaders Lewes but they have the ideal opportunity to bounce back with tomorrow's trip to lowly Welling United (kick-off 7.45pm).

"The first half on Sunday was very poor and we could have been 3-0 down by half-time," said Gurney.

"We picked up a bit after the break and felt we could have gone on and won it after the equaliser, so it was very disappointing to lose two goals in injury time."

It's been a strange start to Gurney's County career with the fantastic win at Ninian Park in the FAW Premier Cup sandwiched by heavy defeats in the league and the 34-year-old is in no doubt where the club's priorities lie.

"It was great to win at Cardiff but the two league games have been very poor and that's what is most important," he said.

"We all want promotion but with performances like that we're not going to get it. The boss wasn't very happy and he certainly put his point across. We need to get right at Welling and get the three points by hook or by crook."

Gurney finished Sunday's game in central defence after Mark Dodds picked up an injury and the former Bristol Rovers man says he'll be happy to fill in once again tomorrow when he's expecting another tough game.

"I've done it before and it's not something that bothers me," he said.

"I still managed to get forward and take the free-kick which Charlie Griffin nodded in so it's not a problem for me.

"I don't care where I play as long as the result goes our way but Welling certainly won't be pushovers.

"They'll be fighting and scrapping because they need the points just as much as us, albeit for different reasons.

"It's the sort of place we have to go to and win if we want a play-off place and we'll need to be at the top of our game to get the right result."

l Llanelli and Carmarthen clash at Stebonheath Park tonight (kick-off 7pm) for the right to play County in the final of the FAW Premier Cup.