Newport County are adamant. Manager Michael Flynn and his staff believe a League Two promotion charge is still possible for their team.

The Exiles are 15th, eight points behind seventh-placed Forest Green with a game in hand, and probably need nine wins from their remaining 13 fixtures.

“We still have a hell of a lot to play for,” said County assistant manager Wayne Hatswell. “It’s in our hands. We’ve got to go again and to believe that we can do it.

“It’s important to win our home games and pick up a couple of away wins, which we are more than capable of doing.

“Maybe need that little bit of luck as well.”

https://twitter.com/NewportCounty/status/1101530466098823169

Nine wins would lift County to 73 points and that would surely be enough to clinch a place in the play-offs.

Victory over eighth-placed Carlisle United at Rodney Parade on Saturday is surely a must and Hatswell says: “We’re always tough to beat at home and we need to start by beating Carlisle or things could start to peter out.

“We’ll always keep driving them on, but we don’t want it to slip away from us.

“We’re at the bottom of the play-off pack. We have to keep believing we can get there.

“Seven of the games are at home and we have got a lot to play for.”

It is three decades since Newport went out of business and witnessing their Emirates FA Cup run and a big improvement in Football League fortunes has been a joy.

They are still in with a shout of making the play-offs and Flynn’s team will give it everything they have.

Newport’s home fixture against Cheltenham Town has been moved because of Six Nations rugby.

The Robins will travel to Rodney Parade on Friday, March 15 (7.45pm) rather than the following day.

Wales face Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff Saturday, March 16 in a game that could see them clinch the Six Nations title and grand slam.