JAMES Clarke was thrilled to celebrate in front of the Walsall fans whose cheers had turned to jeers, now he intends to ensure the ‘real’ Newport County AFC keep turning up in League Two.

The 31-year-old swapped Bescot Stadium for Rodney Parade this summer and provided the telling moment against the Saddlers on Saturday.

Fellow Walsall old boy Cameron Norman whipped in a cross that the central defender headed in powerfully to earn a late but deserved 2-1 win for the Exiles.

Clarke, who made 65 appearances for the Saddlers over two seasons, applauded the travelling contingent at kick-off and got a warm reception in return but that changed during the 90 minutes.

That led to him gesturing towards the West Midlanders after heading his winner, although thankfully he had second thoughts about running towards the away end and instead celebrated with his teammates in front of the Rodney Road Stand.

“You always dream of getting a goal in those circumstances and you never know how you are going to react. It was all a bit surreal,” said Clarke.

“Are you going to hold up your hands and say sorry or do what I did. It is what it is, you get booed for scoring against your old club but can’t really hold back.

“There is a certain amount of loyalty in football, but they were quick enough to get rid of me. Newport took me on, gave me a chance and are now my employers.

“I clapped the Walsall fans and they clapped me before the game, I’ll always have a soft spot for them.

“It’s been a tough few years for them and they deserved a lot more for the players when I was at the club.

“But now I’ve got a new employer and getting booed by my old fans halfway through the game, it is what it is. You can’t hold your feelings in can you?”

South Wales Argus: SOLID: County defender James ClarkeSOLID: County defender James Clarke

Clarke’s goal ensured it wasn’t a case of two points dropped by the Exiles and the central defender believes the real County stood up after being unrecognisable at stages of the start to League Two.

The performance, especially in the first half, and 2-1 triumph was the perfect response to a poor display when beaten 1-0 by Northampton.

County have had a steady start to the season but have also been hammered 8-0 by Premier League Southampton, suffered a 3-0 loss at Salford that could have been worse and then were under-par against the Cobblers.

“Let’s make no bones about it, we’ve had a couple of ropey weeks,” admitted Clarke, who earned a recall against Walsall.

“As players we’ve been searching [for form] and the last few results haven’t been from a team like the Newport sides I played against.

“That was the reaction the gaffer wanted. You can put on as many sessions as you like, or have as many game plans as you want, but the minute we go over the white line it is down to us. It is our responsibility.

“That’s the kind of reaction the fans deserve because there have been a few games, like the Southampton one, which we never want to see again, that have been a bit iffy.

“That was for the staff and the gaffer because we haven’t been at the races and that’s down to us.

“The boys that have been at the club for a while were saying ‘this isn’t us, this isn’t out identity’ and I’ve always played against a Newport team who are very hard to beat and always create chances. It needed a reaction.”

Clarke and his teammates arrived at Rodney Parade on Saturday not knowing who was starting.

He got the good news for a seventh appearance of his Exiles career and should keep his spot for Friday’s trip to Barrow, knowing that he has to perform strongly.

“We’ve got a big squad and everyone is going to be used over the season,” he said. “It is not a squad of 11, it is 20-odd and you have to take your chance when it comes or you will find yourself on the side.

“We’ve got to use the momentum from Walsall, I might look at the goal a few times but that game has to be gone. It’s onto the next one.”