GRAHAM Westley insists his Newport County AFC players have shown they will no longer be “easy meat” for anyone.

County extended their unbeaten run to five games as they held League Two leaders Doncaster Rovers to a 0-0 draw at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

They remain bottom of the table and are now five points from safety with a game in hand after Notts County earned a rare win on Saturday.

But, ahead of Tuesday night’s home clash with Grimsby Town (kick-off 7.45pm), Westley is confident that his new-look team can be a match for anyone in the division.

“I think anybody watching Newport County will start to have a little bit of belief,” said the Exiles boss, who watched Grimsby lose 5-0 at fellow strugglers Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

“Anybody supporting Newport County will go away thinking that the players are now earning their money – they’re working for a living.

“We’re not going to be easy meat anymore – no one is thinking ‘Newport? That’s three points’ and people were thinking that.

“The players are resilient, organised, hard working, determined and they’re putting a bit of pride back into the shirt.”

Westley has added 13 new players to the squad since January 1 and he believes the team will only get better over the coming weeks.

“We’ve gone toe to toe with a good contender at the top end of this league and our lads have only been a team for two or three weeks,” he said as he reflected on the Doncaster stalemate.

“We’ve had new faces arriving all the time and to put in that level of performance against good quality opposition, having been together for such a short period of time, is testament to the way in which they’ve forged themselves together and the determination they’re showing on behalf of the club.

“I thought they were a credit to the football club.

“We just need to keep earning points,” he added. “We didn’t win the football match but we won another point.

“That is five unbeaten and we’re a tough proposition to play against now.”

French free agent Maxime Blanchard, the latest new arrival at Rodney Parade, played 90 minutes on Friday and he could start again on Tuesday with captain Scot Bennett and fellow midfielder Sean Rigg still doubtful and others not fully fit.

“There were knocks that players could have come off with and there will be a few aching so there will be a bit of thinking and planning for Tuesday night,” said Westley.

“Riggy will be touch and go. He’s probably certain for next weekend [Cambridge United away] but touch and go for Tuesday.

“Benno is probably going to be fit for next weekend.

“Tuesday might come a bit early but we’re hoping next weekend so not a long-term thing with Scot.”