PETER Nicholas is getting hot under the collar and his Newport County side are feeling the heat.

The doom-mongers are circling as the Exiles have slumped to their worst league start with two points from their opening four outings following their 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Merthyr at Spytty Park last night.

County's blushes were saved ten minutes from time by an own-goal from Merthyr's Newport-based striker Cortez Belle who put through his own net after Gary Lloyd's in-swinging free-kick had teased the visiting defence. That strike levelled Jason Price's opener ten minutes after the break after he wriggled free at the near post to head Danny Carter's right-wing corner home.

Newport's strikers missed a host of clear-cut chances and it's their inability to score - two goals in 360 minutes- that will give Nicholas sleepless nights.

Garry Shephard and Neil Davis were the main culprits, left-back Lloyd surprisingly posing the main goal threat.

"That was a fair result," said Andy Beattie's No 2 at Penydarren Park John Relish.

County chief Nicholas promised: "We must keep going as we will score goals - then a team will get it big soon.

"We've just got to get our noses in front and I think if we can do that we'll stay there."

Welsh semi-pro pair centre-back Thomas and tigerish midfielder Nathan Davies took knocks last night with back and angle problems, respectively.

Teams. Newport County (4-3-3) P Mountain; T Evans, A Thomas (S Williams, 75), J Eckhardt, G Lloyd; G Phillips, M Rose , N Davies (N Palmer, 64); G Shephard, M Dickeson, N Davis (J Phillips, 89) Subs not used: A Stevenson, G Wesson Booked: N Davies 29 (foul) Merthyr Tydfil (3-5-2) N Thomas; G Thorne, C Evans (K Whitcombe, 75), J Price; S Heal (M Regan, 90), D Carter , K Evans, R Dorrian, P Keddle; C Belle, C Bale (R French, 77) Subs not used: G Elliott, B Cropley Booked: S Heal 27 (foul) Attendance: 935