NEWPORT County AFC defender Fraser Franks reckons it’s all about picking up “ugly points” at this stage of the season when “it doesn’t really matter how you play” so long as you get the right results.

Franks made a goal scoring return to the side in midweek as the Exiles beat struggling Notts County 4-1 for their first win on the road in the league since September.

Newport’s performance, which also featured a Jamille Matt brace and Padraig Amond header, was far from ugly, with boss Michael Flynn even describing it as the “perfect” away display.

Flynn’s men, who go to promotion-chasing MK Dons tomorrow (kick-off 3pm), are now just six points off the play-off places with 14 games left to play.

It was only last Tuesday that they faced the Milton Keynes-based outfit in the reverse fixture at Rodney Parade, losing 1-0 in a match they largely dominated without finding the net.

“The game against them at Rodney Parade is still one I’m scratching my head over how we didn’t win with the amount of chances we had,” Franks told iFollow Exiles.

“That’s probably the difference in this game – we probably had more chances against Milton Keynes and ended up scoring none, yet we scored four against Notts County because we were clinical.

“It’s about being more clinical and just about picking up ugly points at this time of the season.

“The pitches are starting to cut up, so you just need people to step up and this is where some of the experienced heads come in and I’ve got a good feeling about this stage of the season.”

He added: “I’ve played there (Stadium MK) a few times before and it is sort of a strange atmosphere, but it’ll be a good pitch and a game we’re looking forward to.

"We’ve started the week well, got that elusive away victory which we’ve been looking for, and we’ve been due a big one as well – you never know, goal difference could come into it.”

Commenting on County’s inform strike duo of Matt and Amond, who now have 37 goals between them this term, he said: “It’s outstanding.

“They’ve been a key partnership this season and the amount of assists they’ve got for each other and the other boys in the team, I don’t think there’s a better partnership in the league at the minute.

“Jamma gets all types of goals but that (an overhead kick) was a nice one.

“I was more impressed with his assist, I’ve not seen him do that as much, so it was a good one.

“Robbie Willmott has hit form at the right time and Jamma and Podge have been in form all season.

“If we can get people up to form, finish the season well, then you never know what could happen.”

Franks gave the Exiles the lead inside 10 minutes at Meadow Lane on Tuesday, taking no time at all to settle back into the team after fully recovering from an ankle problem.

“I’m pleased because I do like to pop up with a few goals and I seem to score quite a few against Notts County,” he added.

“It’s a strange one. It’s been a tough month being injured and missing out on some of the big games.

“I was on the sidelines for the Middlesbrough game, came back against MK Dons perhaps a little too early and I still don’t feel 100 per cent yet.

“I think it’ll take me a few more training sessions and games to get back up to my usual standards, so it’s a strange one for me because I’m still a little disappointed in my overall performance, but that will come.

“As I say, it doesn’t really matter how we play as long as we get these points on the board at this stage of the season.”

And Franks believes that after the midweek victory the play-offs are very much within reach.

“This was a big test, we had to get ourselves back down to earth in League Two from the highs of Manchester City on Saturday,” he said.

“It’s tough physically from what the boys did on the weekend and it’s tough mentally going from a game with a big crowd and massive audience to what you have to do week in, week out and I thought it was a real professional performance from everyone.

“I think we need to get a bit of consistency going into this last stage of the season, this is the business end where it doesn’t really matter how you play, you just have to come to places like this and get wins.

“We’re confident that if we can go on a little run then we can still challenge for the play-offs.”