NEWPORT County’s record signing Joe Day insists the Exiles have become a “winning,” team as they chase an unlikely second promotion in three seasons.

The Exiles lost their opening three matches in Sky Bet League Two and haven’t looked back since, flying from second bottom of the division to their current lofty perch of third and into the automatic promotion places.

It’s a quite incredible transformation and Day has played a key role, impressing on a 93-day loan before signing a permanent deal and becoming County’s record purchase.

He’s come straight back into the side and they’ve subsequently recorded six points, no shock to the former Peterborough goalkeeper.

“We were under a lot of pressure but dealt with it really well and despite them piling on the pressure I always had faith we could see the game out,” he said.

“It was a great win for us, to see it through in the last five minutes when everything was chucked at us and it gives us a real confidence boost.

“It was never going to be an occasion where either side was likely to be at their best due to the weather, the wind made it very difficult.

“The opposition team (Portsmouth) came here and put 11 men behind the ball and their tactics were obviously to be hard to break down.

“But we are a winning side and we can win playing well or by grinding it out and that is a great strength to have. It is becoming a habit for us, winning and that’s a great thing to have.”

Day believes County’s promotion push is certainly not a flash in the pan.

“Being in the top three gives us a little psychological boost but we know there is still the best part of half a season to come and we aren’t getting carried away at all, there is a long way to go still,” he said.

“But I joined here to get promoted and we’ve got ourselves in a fantastic position and what a run we are on at the moment.

“If we can keep it going and keep the focus in the team, who knows where we can be by the end? And I think we can do just that.

“We’ve come through another big test against Pompey and it is days when we perform and beat a big club like that, I think ‘yeah, I made the right choice signing here.’

“And for a goalkeeper, you are never happier than when you win 1-0, it’s our favourite score.”

Day also praised his deputy, Jamie Stephens and claimed he'd have had no complaints to still be warming the bench, as he did so often with Peterborough United.

“I have a brilliant relationship with him, I know I couldn’t have had any complaints whatsoever if I hadn’t have come back into the side when I rejoined, because Jamie has been fantastic in my absence,” he said.

“We have a great working relationship and push each other in training and make sure we bring the best out of each other and support each other.

“We push each other hard and that’s key. You can’t become complacent.”