NEWPORT County goalkeeper Tony Pennock is desperate to help the Exiles out of relegation trouble because he doesn't want to be remembered as a failure.

Pennock, 34, has been one of the few bright spots in a hugely disappointing season at Spytty Park, but the veteran stopper - who also coaches for Swansea City - has admitted he is taking County's plight particularly hard.

He explained: "People come up to me and talk about County and I have to tell them that we are still struggling in the bottom three, it really hurts me.

"I take our defeats particularly hard, I am 34 and approaching the end of my career and I don't want to be remembered as being part of a struggling side.

"I think the more senior players in the squad do tend to look at it like that, we want to help the younger players and help the manager by taking plenty of responsibility."

Pennock shouldn't worry about his legacy as he has been Newport's most consistent performer this season, but he was powerless to do anything last Saturday as County rolled over and allowed a mediocre Eastleigh to thoroughly dominate the game at Spytty Park, eventually winning 2-0.

"In my opinion, in a season of bad performances, Eastleigh was the very worst of them all," he said.

"We were dreadful and we have to get that result out of our systems, which to a degree we did on Wednesday (County lost 2-0 to Wrexham in the FAW Premier Cup)."

County visit second-placed side Havant and Waterlooville today in the Conference South (kick-off 3pm) and Pennock is upbeat about the clash, insisting the entire squad are raring to go again.

"We haven't won an away game all season, but the lads don't get on to the coach already beaten, we know we can win on the road and soon," he said.

"We seem to raise our game and play better against the better teams in the league and we have no fear going to Havant. They aren't an amazingly good team because no-one is in the entire division and we are capable of beating them.

"I know I am slipping into clich territory here, but we must treat every game like a cup final now, it isn't too late to bring the teams above us into the relegation equation and we must aim for that. It doesn't have to be two from us, Carshalton and Maidenhead."

County boss Peter Beadle saw two potential signings fall through yesterday, though he was at Haverfordwest last night watching a transfer target.

He has had some good news though. Defender Stuart Edwards will be staying on at Spytty Park for another two months after Beadle agreed a deal with Peter Nicholas.

Defender Paul Cochlin and midfielder Lee Jenkins both miss the trip today as they have medial knee ligament strains.

County: Pennock, Bradley, Hearne, Bater, T Evans, Leek, Warton, Hillier, Edwards, Bowen, Toppar, A Williams, Davies, Griffiths, Fisken, Hughes, Green, Prosser