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It was a performance that won the Welshmen any number of grudging admirers in the Moat Ground camp – among them Rovers striker Craig Weston, substitute that day, but likely to lead the line at The Exiles’ adopted Gloucester home tomorrow.

After playing a key role in Rovers midweek victory over Redditch Weston said: “You could tell a lot of them had been in League football – they were very strong and experienced.

“We were on a bit of a run at the time and they turned us over. Now we’re on another run – and if we stretch them about and keep them running we’ve got a chance on Saturday.

“At the start of the season we were new to the league and that was to our advantage. Now we’re playing teams for the second time around and they’ll find we’ve got over our sticky patch. There’s a bit more grit about the side and we’re defending better.

“Earlier in the season we were conceding two or three goals in some games, at set pieces in particular, and I think Bob (Aston) went through a patch where he was struggling to find his best form. But he’s playing very, very well at the moment, as is the defence as a whole. You’ll find we’re defending better right through the side which is half the battle won.”

Injuries have forced Rovers to switch from playing three to two out-and-out frontmen and that has meant a change of role for the 24-year-old former Burton Albion and Grantham raider.

“There’s a bit more onus on us to hold the ball up with two up front. When we’re not in possession we’ve just got to try and help out, to chase and harass and hope to nick something.

“We were under the cosh tonight at a stage of the game when they were coming at us but we caught them twice late on and if we keep sticking them in like that it’s the perfect answer.”

That doesn’t mean Rovers are likely to draw back into a defensive shell against Newport – or anyone else, for that matter.

“Our best game is going forward but the difference between now and the start of the season is that we’re keeping going now for 90 minutes. Our worst problem was going 1-0 up early on. We were prone to sitting back and letting teams come at us but we kept going tonight and it came off for us.

“We’ve found it’s a different standard of football this season – like playing a local derby in the West Midlands league every week. Last season we could get away with playing at less then 100 per cent but anything less than that this season isn’t good enough – we need to be in top gear all the time.”