Newport County's Ryan Haynes targets another win at Walsall

Haynes provided the cross for Kyle Howkins to head home the only goal of the game against Plymouth at Rodney Parade.

And he’s targeting another clean sheet and another three points at Bescot Stadium on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

The former Shrewsbury Town and Coventry City left-back told iFollowExiles: “There are loads of positives to take from our start to the season and there’s loads of confidence as well.

“It is all positives. There are a few things we’ll look back on and say that we’ll need to work on to be better.

“But it’s all positives and smiles on the faces. No one really likes to come to Newport so when teams come here, you want to win and use Rodney Parade as the strong point to build off it.

“And now we go to Walsall with lots of confidence. Hopefully this snowball effect will carry on and we’ll pick up another three points.”

Haynes was happy to pick up his first assist of the season on Saturday and delighted for Howkins to get off the mark after he replaced fellow centre-back Mickey Demetriou.

“I was taking the throw-in over on the right and luckily it came back to me from Joss [Labadie],” he explained.

“I just swung my right leg at it and I was happy to put it on the big man’s head for him to stick it into the back of the net.

“Defenders chipping in with goals is always nice and it’s nice for Kyle particularly because he didn’t start the game, but he came on and got the goal. I’m over the moon for him.”

Haynes has impressed the Rodney Parade faithful in his two home performances so far, but he knows he has to keep performing to fend off the challenge from George Nurse for the left-back spot.

“It was unfortunate that I picked up the injury in pre-season, but those things happen,” said the 23-year-old.

“The games keep coming thick and fast, it’s a long old season but nice to be back playing 90 minutes and putting in performances like I am.

“George is a great lad. He did really well in pre-season and he’s very good. He’s obviously competing with me and he’s putting me to the test.

“It’s rubbing off on me. I have to put in performances like I am because he’s chasing me. It’s good competition.

“You want someone sniffing at you, you need someone biting at your heels and obviously that’s happening and it’s happening all over the pitch.

“The squad depth is really good this year and you can see that by the performances we’re all putting in.”

After tonight’s test against the Saddlers, the Exiles host Crewe Alexandra on Saturday before welcoming Premier League West Ham United to Rodney Parade in the Carabao Cup next Tuesday.

“A lot of people have been saying that it’s our annual Premier League team coming to Rodney Parade,” joked the summer signing.

“We’ll obviously look forward to it, we can showcase what we can do because it’s on TV.

“West Ham are obviously a top, top team so it’s one to look forward to. It’s one for us to enjoy and the supporters to enjoy as well. It’ll be a good night."

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