NEWPORT County AFC midfielder Alex Rodman is confident that the Exiles can finish in the top half of League Two this season after a dramatic improvement under new boss John Sheridan.

County’s fortunes have been revived since Sheridan replaced Terry Butcher as manager at the start of October.

They have climbed off the bottom of the table and are now six unbeaten after Tuesday’s FA Cup replay win over Brackley Town.

They are still 21st in League Two – only four points and two places ahead of Saturday’s visitors Yeovil Town – but Rodman believes that Sheridan can steer the team to safety.

“There’s a really good team spirit in the dressing room,” said the 28-year-old, who scored his first goal for the club on Tuesday.

“The gaffer was on us from the start, and rightly so because we were down there for a reason.

“And the boys have responded. I think we’ve produced some very good performances and hopefully this run continues.

“It was unfortunate for Terry,” he added. “He was never able to field his first XI. We did have a lot of injuries and that was tough for him.

“But John Sheridan has come in and done a fantastic job.

“I really like the way he works – he’s really on the players and doesn’t let us drop our standards.

“He’s constantly asking us to better ourselves and ask more of each other, which is why we’ve turned a corner.

“We keep improving those standards and setting a higher bar for ourselves and I think that’s why we’re steadily climbing the table.

“I think Scot Bennett coming in has been massive – him and Matt Partridge and Janoi Donacien have been fantastic.

“And we’ve scored goals as well so we’ve improved at both ends of the pitch.”

Rodman says Saturday’s clash with Yeovil could be key to the Exiles moving clear of the bottom two.

“I don’t want to put any extra pressure on us but it is a big game and if we can take three points we can start climbing that league table,” he said.

“We’ve got aspirations to be in the top half and I firmly believe we’ve got the squad to do that.

“It is a big game them coming here. We’ve had our first win at home now and we need to turn this place into a bit of a fortress and I think we can do that.”