NEWPORT County AFC fired a warning to their League Two rivals with a fantastic 3-1 win at big-spending Bury on Saturday but manager Justin Edinburgh says talk of a play-off challenge is premature.

The Exiles’ third away win of the season came courtesy of an Aaron O’Connor hat-trick at Gigg Lane and the three points lifted them to eighth in the table – two points off Bury in seventh.

Edinburgh’s men were in control at 2-0 thanks to O’Connor’s first half double but showed great character to withstand a second-half fightback.

Danny Rose gave the hosts hope on 61 minutes but Joe Day, playing his last match before returning to parent club Peterborough United, was again in inspired form before O’Connor’s stoppage-time third sealed the points.

“We’re very much enjoying the run that we’re on,” said Edinburgh, whose side have lost just once in 15 league games.

“Things really are starting to come together for us as a team.

“We’ll keep chipping away but we won’t get carried away.

“As soon as I start talking about the play-offs then people say we’re going to do this or that but we’ll maintain our focus and try to keep this run going.”

But, having let a 2-0 lead slip at Hartlepool United three weeks ago and at Morecambe in August, Edinburgh felt Saturday’s win demonstrated the growing belief in his squad.

“As a manager and a group of players you have to ask yourself sometimes if you can develop,” he said.

“When that goal went in for Bury it was a test for us.

“A lot of people would have looked at it and thought it was inevitable that they’d get a second but we’re string now.

“We have a better group of players and we’re stronger mentally that we were last season and we’ve shown that again.

“And we can win in the north so that’s another obstacle we’ve overcome and I’m delighted we sent our supporters home happy.”

Curtis Obeng started on Saturday after extending his loan from Swansea City but there are unlikely to be any more arrivals at Rodney Parade before January.

“We’ve extended that for another month and we’re thankful for Swansea again for working with us,” said Edinburgh. “They really have helped us.

“I don’t foresee anyone else coming in at the moment,” he added.

“When I look at the bench we had on Saturday I think it was the strongest we’ve had all year.

“We’ve got an excellent squad here now and the players have got to relish that challenge.”

As to who will replace Day at Carlisle United next week, the manager was non-committal.

He said: “I’ve got Lenny Pidgeley and Jamie Stephens, two very good goalkeepers, and whoever gets the opportunity it’s a good chance for them to take that place.”