NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan wants to ‘tick off’ League Two safety by stunning promotion-chasing Milton Keynes Dons.

The Exiles head to Buckinghamshire as play-off contenders thanks to a strong run of form since Christmas.

They are 15th in the table but are just two points off seventh-placed Harrogate after winning six and drawing two of their last nine league fixtures.

However, Coughlan won’t talk about the unlikely bid for the play-offs, his first target is retaining Football League status.

After a summer of key exits and financial concerns, the Exiles were tipped by many for a relegation scrap but head into this weekend’s game with a 23-point advantage over one-from-bottom Forest Green Rovers.

Coughlan wants to hit the 50-point mark that traditionally avoids the drop and then wants to get to 58 to beat last season’s tally.

“If I had said that you could go to MK Dons and more or less secure League Two status, we are not even out of February and everybody at the club would have snapped their hands off,” said Coughlan.

“That’s our first target and if we can tick off that box we can move onto the next one. That’s a massive achievement and prize.”

Milton Keynes are in the mix to bounce back to League One at the first attempt; they are fifth and four points back on the automatic promotion places.

“They are a really good team, a possession-based team who win a lot of fouls and free-kicks,” said Coughlan. “They are technical, want to play inside and create shooting opportunities.

“They will be up there – anybody who finishes above MK Dons will be in a really healthy position. I’d fancy a team to get automatic promotion by finishing above them, that’s how strong they are.”

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County have already beaten leaders Stockport and third-placed Wrexham while they shared the spoils with the Dons 0-0 in Newport despite being down to the bare bones in November.

“We are going into games with confidence and we enjoy challenging those ‘bigger’ clubs that have a lot more than us,” said Coughlan.

“This will be another brilliant challenge and one we are looking forward to with a really vocal backing behind the goals. We will give it our all and hopefully that will be good enough.”

The Dons are joint second in League Two with leaders Stockport for points chalked up at home behind Wrexham.

MK, who sacked Graham Alexander in October and replaced him with Mike Williamson, have won 10, drawn four and lost three of 17 games at home.