DEFENDER Harry Worley says Newport County AFC are enjoying being the surprise package in League Two this season, writes Andrew Penman.

The former Oxford United centre-back helped shut out his old club at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night as County recorded their successive fifth clean sheet.

And Worley insists that the pressure is all on leaders Oxford, and high-flying Fleetwood Town, Chesterfield and Rochdale, rather than the Exiles.

“They’ll definitely be up there,” Worley said. “That’s what they’re here for. There is a lot of pressure on them but there’s no pressure on us and we’re profiting from that.

“But we do our talking on the pitch. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and see what happens.

“Any away point is a good point, especially with a clean sheet, and like Saturday we probably had the better chances.

“The defensive record is great for us defenders and we haven’t really looked like conceding so we’re very happy with how we’re going.”

Worley, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday, says County have coped admirably with the number of injuries in the squad and heaped praise on young defensive teammate Adedeji Oshilaja.

“The lads that have come in for the injured players have done more than enough and that is why we are where we are,” he said.

“But the players coming back are obviously going to make us even stronger so things are looking good at the moment.

“Ade is a young lad and he’s settled in really well,” he added. “He’s very composed and me and Ish (Ismail Yakubu) are playing well alongside him as well.”

Worley is now looking forward to keeping the run of clean sheets going and continuing the Exiles’ fine home form when second-placed Chesterfield come to Rodney Parade on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 1pm).

“Chesterfield are flying as well but we’ve only lost one game at home all season and we probably shouldn’t have lost that one,” he said.

“Apart from that it’s been a fortress and we’ll try to keep that going on Sunday.”