BOSS James Rowberry has called on Newport County AFC to be brilliant at the basics when they head to in-form Stevenage in League Two tomorrow evening.

The Exiles, whose trip to Swindon was postponed on Saturday after the death of the Queen, are back on the road for the first time since hammering Harrogate 4-0.

That was followed by a deflating loss to Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade and they will need to up their game against second-placed Stevenage.

The Boro were tepid last season and were in danger of the drop but Steve Evans has got them firing.

“I don't know Steve Evans but he has had so much success in these divisions,” said Rowberry about the Glaswegian.

“His teams are well organised, well drilled, structured and always competitive. We need to be ready for that and it will be a really good test.

“At every level, whether Premier League or League Two, you have to be brilliant at certain elements.

South Wales Argus: James Waite in action for County at Stevenage last seasonJames Waite in action for County at Stevenage last season (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“Winning races, winning tackles, winning duels, winning headers, making sure clearances go where they need to, locking in when attacking, being ready in transition.

“Whatever it might be, we need to be brilliant and Stevenage are one of the teams that do that really well.”

County were poor in defeat to Grimsby but Rowberry is confident a week on the training pitch will have ironed out issues.

“We have addressed what we needed to from a team defensive viewpoint,” he said.

“We have worked on things we need to do better with the ball, showing bravery to take it out [from the back] as we have in past times. We had a diligent week and worked really hard.”

County did the double over Steenage last season, hammering them 5-0 at Rodney Parade in October and winning 2-0 in March thanks to second-half goals by Rob Street and Ryan Haynes.

The Exiles also won at Broadhall Way in the 2020/21 season courtesy of a Tristan Abraham penalty.