AFTER progressing in the FA Cup and the Leasing.com Trophy, Matty Dolan says Newport County AFC are now determined to get back on track in League Two.

County have fallen to 11th in the table after three successive league defeats and the postponement of the away games at Cheltenham Town and Grimsby Town.

After beating Maldon & Tiptree and Brighton & Hove Albion under-21s in the cups, they head to Bradford City on Saturday looking for a first league win since October 19.

The Bantams are four points and four places above the Exiles in the table having played a game more.

“Bradford are a massive club with a big budget and they’ll be looking to get straight back up into League One,” said Dolan.

“It’ll be tough but we’ll prepare right and make sure we give everything to get a result.

“We want to put the league form right,” he added.

“The FA Cup the other day [at Maldon] wasn’t pretty but, ultimately, we’re through and we’ve got to use those scruffy wins and make sure we sort out our league form.

“We’ve dwindled off it a little bit but that’s not through lack of effort.

“The league is our bread and butter and every time we’ve gone on a bad run, we’ve always bounced back. We won’t let it linger.”

Dolan captained a young County side to a penalty shootout victory at Brighton on Tuesday and he was impressed with teenagers Joe Woodiwiss and Dominic Jefferies.

“It’s great experience for the young lads coming through and we move onto the next round now and look to progress again,” said the 26-year-old.

“I thought the young boys were fantastic – Joe alongside me and Dom in midfield as well, and Lewis, who didn’t stop running all night.

“If you look at Dom last Friday playing his first game live on the BBC and not in his preferred position, he was fantastic.

“And playing at places like the Amex and playing for points and progress will really help in their development.”

Dolan was forced to fill in as an emergency centre-back at Brighton and it was an experience he enjoyed, although he’s hoping to nail down a regular starting spot in midfield.

“With the injuries we’ve had we’ve got a very depleted squad,” he explained.

“The gaffer pulled me aside on Monday and asked me if I could do a job and we got a clean sheet so it wasn’t too bad.

“I enjoyed it. I haven’t played there a long time and it’s quite nice to be able to see the whole picture ahead of you, but those nippy strikers nipping in behind me weren’t my favourite.

“It’s another string to my bow and if I’m needed there again, I’ll obviously do it. But I think our centre-halves are fantastic.

“We’ve got Mickey [Demetriou] coming back, I think OB (Mark O’Brien) and Ryan Inniss have been great and Kyle Howkins too when he’s played, and Benno (Scot Bennett) as well.

“The defensive record over the last six months has been fantastic.”

Dolan continued: “I’ve been in and out of the side and I’m desperate to be playing.

“I’ve racked up a few games for the club in the last couple of seasons but I want to be playing every minute for the club.

“The more games you’re playing, the more match sharpness you get back.”

Read more: Mickey Demetriou 'very close' to return for Newport County at Bradford City