TWO months ago Newport County were walking in a Holdsworth wonderland but on Saturday their winter of woe continued against Rushden and Diamonds.

The chips are down and Newport County need to stand up and be counted, caretaker manager Tim Harris explaining that he needs to see a “siege mentality” from his weary troops.

The Exiles’ body language is frightful at times, shoulders slumped and heads bowed, a once-proud defensive unit currently incapable of doing the basics, a dynamic attack not firing on all cylinders.

It says something for the tremors that Dean Holdsworth’s departure have created at Spytty Park that the reading of the half- time score “Aldershot 1 Crewe 2” drew the biggest cheer of the day, bitter disappointment of course compounded by the final score, Holdsworth continuing to weave his magic in League Two.

However, it’s prudent at this time to remember that County’s recent woes stretch back further than Holdsworth’s departure, the country’s most form side in 2010 utterly winless in 2011, struggling in every department.

Of course, when the chips are down your luck is out. When you are on top at 1-1 you are denied a certain penalty. When you are 2-1 down and get a late penalty, the visiting goalkeeper makes a stunning save.

It’s why there is no more cruel mistress than the beautiful game, always ready to kick you in the teeth just when you need a lucky break.

Harris has been in football for the best part of 30 years, but he’ll probably never have faced a bigger challenge than reviving the Exiles, who unbelievably are still well and truly in the hunt for the playoffs despite their horrendous recent run.

That’s testament to the fact the Exiles have good players, but it’s vital that the next week before the close of the transfer window is fully utilised as last-minute transactions will make or break the campaign for County, in all likelihood.

The Exiles showed signs of revival on Saturday, with pieces of enterprising football, particularly midway through the first period when they looked more likely winners.

Overall, they didn’t do enough, though, as they relied far too heavily on long diagonal balls vaguely in the direction of Robbie Matthews, Craig Reid looking frustrated at a lack of service and quite rightly so.

The absence of a ball-winning midfielder with Jamie Collins again needed in central defence is now abundantly clear, Mike Fowler more comfortable going forward, but for the moment looking short of match sharpness.

Sam Foley seems to be improving after his injury-hit campaign, but there the positives really end in regard to Saturday, the Exiles again fragile at the back, exposed half a dozen times by Rushden.

With their first move of real purpose they opened the scoring on Saturday, Ryan Charles finding the back post with a neat cross for Aaron O’Conner to neatly square the ball, Michael Gash on hand to finish from close range and open his account for his new club.

The Exiles responded magnificently, producing 15 minutes of football that was so 2010 rather than the present, inventive and incisive, quick and clever.

Foley’s firm header was just over as the shed was jolted back into life, Craig Reid then barging his way through and into the penalty area, Max Porter having got on the wrong side having little choice but to haul him down.

If the man in the baseball cap was still in charge Reid would’ve then been on spot-kick duties, but Danny Rose stepped up to fire into the top corner, having been given the duty on a permanent basis.

Midway through the first half and County were suddenly sniffing a second, Darryl Knights beating the offside trap and squaring to Foley, who scooped the ball over under duress from Luke Prosser, a clearer penalty shout certainly than the one the Exiles got at the death.

Suddenly utilising the flanks brilliantly County were then within a whisker, Paul Bignot’s cross met by Foley and brilliantly tipped away by Joe Day before Reid met a Matthews knock down and rifled inches wide of the far post.

How County needed to score in that purple patch, because when their momentum began to recede they were severely punished.

Charles beat the offside trap on 37 minutes but fluffed his lines, firing over the bar in what was actually merely a warning shot.

Three minutes later ruthless Rushden repeated the trick, star man O’Conner ghosting clear and rounding Glyn Thompson superbly, one fluid motion taking him from outside the area into a position where he couldn’t miss.

The crowd longed for a sustained improvement from County in the second period, but they simply didn’t get it.

Day again produced a tremendous save to deny Collins with a header just past the hour, but it wasn’t until Reid’s shot struck Prosser on the arm on 88 minutes hat parity really looked on the cards.

But Rose was denied a second by the imperious Day, the visitors rubbing salt in the wounds by breaking and killing the game within 30 seconds, substitute Matt Johnson toying with County’s rearguard as he twisted and turned before firing past Thompson.

County: Thompson, Bignot, Hughes (Odhiambo 46), Todd, Collins, Foley, Knights (Montgomery 79), Rose, Fowler (Morgan 63), Reid, Matthews.

Subs not used: Garner, McDonald.

Booked: Bignot (83).

Rushden and Diamonds: Joe Day, Porter, Prosser, Osano, Mills, O’Conner, Jamie Day, Power (Johnson 80), Corcoran, Charles (Smith 60), Gash.

Subs not used: Farrell, Thorne, Evans.

Booked: O’Conner (58), Charles (60).

Referee: Wayne Barratt (Bromsgrove).

Attendance: 1,743.

Argus star man: O’Conner (R&D).