FANS favourite Nathan Davies claims Newport County can still make the play-offs this season, as long as the supporters get behind the team.

The Exiles, currently one place above the relegation zone in 17th host eighth-placed Welling United at Spytty Park tomorrow looking for only their third league win but Davies is confident that they have turned the corner after a tough opening two months of the campaign.

“The last three games have been more positive,” he said. “There is more shape to the team and we’re not conceding as many. We’re still capable of scoring more but we’ve tightened up a bit at the back and we’ve definitely improved.

“Team spirit is very good and if we can string a few results together now we will fly up the league,” he added.

“It’s been a poor start but it’s still very early in the season. There is a long way to go and we still believe we can make the play-offs. If we can put a run together there’s no reason why we can’t push for that.”

And the 26-year-old County youth product, who is struggling to shake off a bad dose of flu which forced him to miss Monday’s last-gasp draw at Weston-super-Mare, insists that the fans can play a big part in any revival.

“It’s touch and go for me as far as Saturday is concerned, I’ve been off work and I haven’t been able to train all week as it’s affected my chest and my head,” said Davies. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I hope I can play a part. It’s a massive game and it would be nice to get a big crowd in our first match at home for three weeks.

“We’ve got to stick together. The atmosphere against Bromley last time out was better, even if there wasn’t a big crowd,” he added.

“The hardcore fans were there and they got behind us, which is what we need. It doesn’t help when people get on our backs. They pay their money and they’re entitled to an opinion but we need a positive atmosphere if we’re going to climb the table.”