NEWPORT County captain Darren Jones has urged his side to keep the momentum going after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Hartlepool United extended their unbeaten run to five games, writes Jay Bayford.

The Exiles looked to be heading to a defeat after a Lee Minshull own goal and a Jordan Hugill strike gave the visitors a strong advantage but Jones fired in just before half time to start the comeback, with Aaron O’Connor equalising shortly after the break.

The draw keeps County in 6th place and on course for the play-offs but they travel to Exeter City on Easter Monday, where they face a team just four points below them and looking for a way in to a play-off position.

With only six games left of the Football League Two season left to play, Jones feels it is important to keep their good form going.

He said: “The games are going down, there’s less points to play for. We’re in there and our own fate is up to us.

“I would’ve preferred a victory [over Hartlepool] but after going 2-0 down, you’d take anything.

“As long as we are at least matching every team above and around us. If we keep winning, or at least getting points, then we’re in there and no other team will catch us.”

Despite failing to beat a side flirting with relegation, the captain believes the comeback shows his side are not easy to play against.

“Every day we work hard and the boys’ attitude is spot on. For the last 4-5 weeks, we have shown that,” said the 31-year-old.

“We’re not easily beaten. We go 1-0 or 2-0 down and we fight to the last whistle. Exeter will be looking at that thinking we are tough to beat and we’ll go down there full of confidence after today and hopefully get the three points.”

After a torrid run of results, Jimmy Dack has got the Exiles back in form at the business end of the season with Newport. Automatic promotion may b out of sight but the Exiles are perfectly placed for a play-off spot and Jones knows what has to be done to be successful.

“The team going in to the play-offs with the most momentum, they are the team that normally gets promoted. So we just have to keep pushing, keep working hard and hopefully we’ll get our rewards”

Meanwhile, County physio Adam Roche has praised the approach of County’s depleted squad as they look to recover for the trip to Exeter.

"The model we follow is a 48 hour recovery period post game, so after the Hartlepool game we'll have Saturday and Sunday as recovery,” Roche told the club website.

"It's simple things like staying hydrated, eating properly, doing their recovery stretches, having ice baths, getting a massage, things like that to make sure they feel better. If they feel better they'll move better and be ready quicker.

"They reported for training on Saturday, we'll did some light recovery work.

"It's nothing new, nothing exciting, but it's making sure they do it properly and professionally."