NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh believes he can see the green shoots of recovery for his side in the first week of Spring.

County followed up Saturday’s 1-0 win at Torquay United with another clean sheet in the 0-0 draw at home to Bury on Tuesday night.

And Edinburgh says that was a positive result after a dreadful start to 2014 saw his side pick up just eight points from 45 before the win at Plainmoor.

“It’s another point on the board and it’s a point gained,” said the Exiles boss.

“We started slowly, which is unlike us, but credit to Bury; they are probably the first team to come here and put us on the back foot at the start of the game.

“But I thought once we got a grip of the game we took the game to them, certainly in the second half.

“There were a lot of pleasing aspects,” he added. “We’ve kept back to back clean sheets and Darcy Blake and Kevin Feely, along with Andrew Hughes and Tom Naylor, were excellent again.

“Darcy looks a class act but young Kevin was outstanding in only his fourth League game against an experienced pro like Clive Platt.

“And I was delighted with the way we tried to play on a difficult pitch. We started slowly but finished strongly.”

Next up for County is the visit of relegation-threatened Portsmouth to Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Edinburgh finished his professional playing career at Pompey in 2003 and was linked to the manager’s job at Fratton Park earlier this season but he rejected the notion that the game will have extra significance for him.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “We’ve played them a couple of times this season already and the important thing is that we keep this run going.

“The win on Saturday gave us confidence and we’ll be looking for a win on Saturday.”

As for the Exiles play-off hopes, with his side nine points off the top seven with a game in hand, Edinburgh said: “We have to go on a very good run and get back to where we were but the last two results have given us an opportunity.

“We’re not conceding and we’re not chasing games now so you never know but first and foremost we have to look to Saturday and look to continue the run that we’re on.”