Newport County sit proudly atop the Blue Square Conference South and now have a new accolade to enjoy; they are the top undefeated side in English league football.

The Exiles, who are 20 games unbeaten in the Blue Square South over two seasons, are the only side from the Premier League, Championship, Leagues One and Two, the Conference or the Conference North to have reached the end of October without losing a single league fixture.

Leeds United, the only other side who hadn’t tasted league defeat, were beaten 2-1 at Millwall in League One over the weekend.

County, inactive over the weekend because of the FA Cup, will now have a chance to protect their unique record when they head to Staines tomorrow night for Blue Square South action, (kick-off 7.45pm).

And it could be quite a test for the Exiles with the hosts boosted by a splendid 1-0 victory at Hayes and Yeading in the FA Cup on Saturday, setting them up for a first round clash at Shrewsbury.

The Exiles were of course knocked out by Paulton Rovers in the third qualifying round, the Southern League minnows beating Chippenham over the weekend in qualifying round four to land a huge tie, at home to Norwich City.

However, Conference-chasing County don’t have time for what might have been and will head to Staines after a ten-day rest, having won at St Albans last weekend.

Despite a period of inactivity and no game time, Exiles boss Dean Holdsworth was busy in that time, tinkering with his squad. County will travel to Staines without either Nathan Davies and Aaron Cook, both of whom have left the club.

Davies has gone out on loan to Leamington, looking to find form and fitness after a truncated start to the season, hampered by injury and the performances of others.

The man nicknamed Mr Newport County has never played for anybody else, but the Leamington supporters have already taken to him. Davies shone as his new side beat Brackley 2-1 at the weekend and County’s midfielder was named man of the match as Leamington won for the first time in five games.

However, Cook has left the club permanently; boss Holdsworth deciding to accept an approach from Eastleigh, who will sign the Blue Square South team of the year man early this week. Eastleigh had an exciting result of their own on Saturday, winning 5-3 at Dover in the FA Cup, meaning the clash between Dover and County – second against top of the Conference South – will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday, November 7 (the same time as the FA Cup first-round games take place).

County head to Staines with a fully fit squad to choose from apart from long-term knee victim Takumi Ake. Defender Gary Warren is recovering from a groin problem and could be in line to take over from Cook as skipper.