SPOT-KICK hero Andy Sandell says Newport County AFC have nothing to fear about life in League Two.
County recorded their second league victory of the season by easing past Severnside rivals Bristol Rovers 1-0 at Rodney Parade on Saturday thanks to Sandell’s penalty.
And the left wing-back is certain that the Exiles can thrive in the Football League following their promotion via the Conference play-offs last season.
“We’re still on a roll from last season and confidence is still high,” said Sandell.
“As long as we make Rodney Parade a fortress and pick up some points away from home then we’ll be in a very good position.
“We’ve got nothing to fear,” he added. “We just have to keep believing in ourselves and enjoy playing. We get on well on and off the pitch and the atmosphere is brilliant. Long may it continue.”
Saturday was a special day for the 29-year-old as he scored the only goal against the team he supported as a boy and made more than 30 appearances for from 2006 to 2007.
“It was a perfect day for us to win 1-0, and for me to score and keep a clean sheet,” he said.
“It’s always nice to score against one of your former clubs but I was never going to celebrate or do anything stupid like that because I still keep the club close to my heart.
“As a young lad my gramps took me to watch the Gas so I was a fan of Rovers before I played for them, and for me it was a dream come true.
“If I ever had the chance to play for them again I would jump at the chance.”
As well as Sandell, Exiles skipper David Pipe and striker Chris Zebroski were also facing their former club and injury victim Byron Anthony is also an ex-Pirates man.
“It wasn’t just me,” added Sandell. “There are quite a few of us and Byron was here as well. They gave us a good round of applause and the rest of the lads feel the same way about the club.”
County travel to Dagenham & Redbridge next and Sandell is confident that they will keep their impressive form going.
“It’s great to keep a clean sheet, particularly after the Northampton game when we could have been 2-0 up and then they went and scored two very quickly,” he said.
“It’s always nice to keep a clean sheet and if you do that you are going to get points, which is what we want.”
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