DRIVERS beware – Newport County AFC manager Warren Feeney has told his defenders to clear the ball onto the M4 if necessary.

With seven goals in five League Two matches, Feeney is pleased with his side’s form going forward.

He knows that the problem is at the other end of the pitch with eight goals conceded – nine if you count John Akinde’s strike in last week’s abandoned match against Barnet.

“I think our attacking options our absolutely fantastic – there’s real competition for places – but we’ve got to keep the back door shut,” said Feeney, who wants his defenders to concentrate on defending.

“A lot of people want to score goals but I loved the old George Graham Arsenal teams – winning 1-0 –and that’s what we’ve got to do.

“I look at academy players these days and they can’t head balls,” he added.

“Right-backs want to be wingers, left-backs want to be wingers.

“For me defenders are defenders. You’ve got to go back to basics and if you’ve got to hit the M4 you’ve got to hit the M4.”

Feeney could recall Jamie Turley after injury for tomorrow’s home clash with Cheltenham Town and he may hand new loan signing Kyle Cameron a first start but he’s not convinced that a change in formation would help.

“There’s good players there to step in,” said the manager.

“There’s competition for places and Kyle knows the league well.

“He can head the ball. He headed one the other day about 50 yards!”

“The boys that came in only had two days before the game last week but they’ve had a good week of training now and he is in contention.”

Asked if he could switch to five at the back, Feeney said: “I’m a believer that formations don’t win football games; I think players win football games.

“They’re and honest bunch but they’ve got to cut the mistakes out and they know that.

“With the injuries we’ve had we’ve had to change personnel at the back and sometimes it can unsettle but they know themselves that they’ve got to do the basics.

“Stopping crosses and not losing your man in the box – that’s the basics of football and they’ve got to get that in their locker.”