However, with Newport lying just outside the relegation places they entered a run of form that saw them lose just two more games in the first half of the season.

Highlights included home wins over Northampton Town, AFC Wimbledon, York City, Southend United, Stevenage and Plymouth Argyle; and away wins at Portsmouth, Dagenham & Redbridge, Bury, Carlisle United and Cheltenham Town.

In the new year, the good results kept coming: Home wins over Carlisle and Portsmouth put County in third place.

His departure was confirmed just two hours before kick-off at AFC Wimbledon and, under caretaker manager Jimmy Dack, County slipped to a fourth successive defeat.

[4] County halted a run of four straight defeats with a 1–1 draw against Tranmere Rovers in Dack's first home game in charge.