THE big news this week is the new contracts for the dynamic duo Andrew Hughes and Conor Washington and I’m really pleased for the pair of them.

They’re not the brightest – I don’t think they can spell Newport County between them and they probably had to stencil their names on the contracts – but they are great lads.

They work hard and they don’t give the gaffer any problems. They’re keen to learn and I think they’ve both come on leaps and bounds this season so they deserve to have new deals.

I know Tiger was a bit frustrated last season being out of the team and Conor has had to wait for his chance as well but they have both been superb for us.

It’s obviously good for the club to have two talented youngsters tied down as well but I like seeing kids go on and fulfil their potential.

If they do get a chance to go I know the club wouldn’t stand in their way but at least we should get a fair fee for them now.

But they can’t be worried about that as players. The minute you start thinking about clubs looking at you that is when you start to struggle.

They are both level-headed lads and they know they’ve got to carry on doing what they’ve been doing so well and help this club rise up the table in League Two.

We got a decent point at Plymouth on Tuesday but I thought it was maybe a bit of a missed opportunity because the boys looked comfortable throughout.

Plymouth’s front two are a handful but they didn’t really get the service. That was credit to the way we defended.

And, looking back on it, because it was comfortable maybe we could have gone on and won it.

But you’d probably say on chances created it was a fair result – it wasn’t the most entertaining game!

The floodlight failure was probably the only thing people will remember from Tuesday night come the end of the season.

I’ve never experienced that before as a player but it was good for me because it happened just after I’d come on and immediately after I’d given a free-kick away on the edge of our box.

And with the delay and all the commotion I was able to convince the ref that it was ten yards further back!

That was obviously good for us because it stopped them having a pop at goal and thankfully we cleared the ball.

It would have been very harsh on us to lose it and especially for the 404 County fans that travelled down there in midweek on a really horrible wet night.

They didn’t deserve to see their team lose and credit to them because that kind of support really means everything to the players.

It’s a shame we couldn’t nick the win but if we can get three points at home to Southend today then it will have been another fantastic week for us after the win over York last Saturday.

It’s not been so good for me personally because I’ve been on the bench for the last two games.

That doesn’t get any easier as you get older but I’m not one to throw a tantrum and kick my toys out of the pram.

We were poor at Rochdale and I take it on the chin. The gaffer knows I’m an honest pro and I’ll just work hard in training and try to make an impact when I come on.

I’m not happy being on the bench but I won’t give the gaffer any problems. I won’t be sulking. I’ve never done it and I never will. I’ve just got be patient now.

It happens to most players at some point during a season. Pipey was ill last week but Ryan Jackson came in at right wing-back, did really well and kept his place for Tuesday.

I’m pleased for Ryan because he’s had to wait for his chance and he’s a good young player. He’s still got a lot to learn but he has the potential to be a good player.