NEWPORT County AFC manager Jimmy Dack still believes that his side can make the League Two play-offs but he knows they have a job on their hands to restore the fans’ faith.

County are down to ninth in the table, three points off the top seven, after Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Southend United – their third on the bounce.

And Dack knows it is vitally important that his side beat Dagenham & Redbridge at Rodney Parade on Saturday to convince the supporters that the promotion dream is still alive.

“I think we’ve got to lift the fans,” said the Exiles boss after Tuesday’s defeat, which followed similar losses at Exeter City and at home to Bury in a damaging nine days.

“Up until 75 minutes at Exeter we were five games unbeaten, playing really well and in control.

“We had a chance and we didn’t take it and then all of a sudden the confidence drained out of us, for whatever reason.

“Whatever it is we’ve got to get over quickly and get going because we’ve got three games to go before the end of the season.

“It’s not over,” he added. “We’ve still got three games to go and we probably need three wins but we’ve got two home games and one away.

“We’ve said a few home truths in there [the dressing room] and there’s a few boys hurting from the loss.

“We’ve put ourselves in a great position and we don’t want to let it slip that easily.

“It’s not through the want of trying because they’re trying hard but for the minute it’s just not happening, for whatever reason.”

But the belief is still there amongst the squad that a play-off place is achievable?

“Of course it is,” said Dack. “We’re in the mix; we’re not in a relegation battle, we’re in a promotion battle.

“We’ll be hurting today and tomorrow but we’ll start preparing Thursday and Friday for Saturday’s game.

“You can’t dwell on it too long. We’re all very disappointed but the longer you dwell on it the longer it takes to get it out of your system.

“We’ve just got to get going as soon as we can.”