NEWPORT County AFC are contenders for the League Two play-offs but manager Graham Coughlan prefers to focus on his magical 50-point mark.
The Exiles boss has consistently rebuffed talk of the top seven and stressed the first target is a half-century to secure Football League safety.
County moved to 49 with victory at Harrogate on Tuesday and there is no chance of them falling into the National League.
Plenty of us feared a relegation scrap after a summer of key departures and financial uncertainty but they are well clear of Sutton, Forest Green, Grimsby and Colchester.
Nonetheless, Coughlan will want to tick off the primary objective of 50 points before moving on to his next target of 57 to beat the tally from 2022/23.
County are surpassing expectations to be on the brink of a half century heading into March but will need to be at their best in their next two games against leaders Mansfield at Rodney Parade and second-placed Stockport at Edgeley Park.
They have 12 games to go and could become the fourth fastest Exiles team to 50 points since the return to the Football League.
Here are the speeds of the previous squads…
2014/15: 15 games to go.
County finished with 65 points after reaching 50 on Valetine’s Day. They fell out of play-off contention after Justin Edinburgh left for Gillingham.
2020/21: 14 games to go.
Finished on 73 points – the highest since the Football League return – in a second season that ended with controversial Wembley woe. Hit 50 on March 6 in a campaign that started later due to Covid.
2021/22: 13 games to go.
Finished in 11th with 69 points but suffered a late collapse after being in the mix for automatic promotion in March. Hit 50 on February 26.
2017/18: 10 games to go.
County finished with 64 points (11th). Hit the half-century on March 10.
2018/19: 9 games to go.
Finished with 71 points (seventh) but reached the half-century quite late on March 15. That was the start of an unbeaten run of six wins and four draws earned a play-off spot, and the subsequent Wembley heartbreak.
2013/14: 6 games to go.
County finished with 58 points in their first season back in the Football League, 14th, and brought up their half-century on April 5.
2022/23: 5 games to go.
Finished with 57 points (15th). Hit the half-century on April 15.
FAILED TO HIT 50...
2019/20: Covid-curtailed season. Were close on 46 points on March 10 with 10 to play when the campaign was brought to an early end.
2015/16: Finished on 43 points, 22nd in the table, nine ahead of relegated Dagenham and York.
2016/17: Failed to hit 50 again in the Great Escape season. Finished in 22nd with 48 points, two above relegated Hartlepool.
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