NEWPORT County AFC manager Warren Feeney says he can’t let the pressure on his shoulders affect the players ahead of tonight’s League Two clash at Grimsby Town.

Feeney faced calls for his dismissal from many fans in the stands on Saturday as County threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to bottom club Cambridge United.

And supporters have flooded the Argus website and social media platforms since then demanding the manager be sacked or resign.

Feeney is aware of the fans’ frustrations but he’s focusing on lifting his players as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone with a win at Blundell Park against newly-promoted Grimsby.

“I take full responsibility for everything,” said Feeney, who refused to speak to the Argus after Saturday’s match.

“That’s football and we just get on with it. I can’t affect that.

“I can only affect what’s in the changing room and on the pitch and I will.

“I care but we’ve got to move onto the next one.

“We have to keep the players’ heads up and get them going.

“You can’t let anything affect them. They’re an honest bunch, I work with them every day, and we have to get them going again for a tough game on Tuesday night.”

Asked if he was a ‘ranter and a raver’ in the dressing room, he told BBC Wales: “I can be but I think everyone is disappointed with what’s gone on there and the thing is I’ve got to pick those boys back up again.

“I don’t think we were out done by the team [Cambridge]. I think it was ourselves that made the mistakes.”

The one positive to come out of Saturday’s match was the promising partnership between strikers Rhys Healey, who opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, and Jon Parkin.

“They worked well together,” said Feeney. “I know what Rhys is about and I think Parky’s played really well.

“You’ve just got to be careful with the big lad. He’s never going to run here and run there but he is a threat for us and I thought they played well.

“I thought there were some good performances but we can’t keep giving the goals away we do.”