GRAHAM Westley says Newport County AFC took another step in the right direction after a late Sean Rigg penalty salvaged a point against Barnet.

It was County's first point since Westley replaced Warren Feeney in his third game in charge and it leaves his side six points from safety at the foot of League Two with one game on hand.

It could have been all three points with the hosts leading through Ben Tozer's first half header and dominating for long stretches of the match.

But they could also have been left empty handed after John Akinde levelled with a far post header on 76 minutes and put the Bees ahead on 85 minutes with a long range effort.

Rigg earned Westley's men a deserved point by converting from the spot in the 89th minute after substitute Jennison Myrie-Williams had gone down in the box. 

"Possession was 50/50, but we had the better of the chances," said the Exiles boss.

"But we are taking steps in the right direction. We are developing a character and desire to win points.

"We could have won it late on. The players are trying very hard to give the fans what they want, which is winning football.

"Our early season form wasn't showing that many chances, but we're looking like a unit going forward," he added.

"There's a sense of purpose to us and anyone watching us would be excited by the play."

Despite rallying to a late point, the Exiles have now gone 13 games without a win in all competitions.

"The whole process we're going through is reducing the errors and improving our defensive organisation," Westley said.

"I'm improving our work rate throughout and making sure we've got a pattern to our play and that we're allowing the players to express themselves."

Ahead of Saturday's trip to Accrington Stanley the manager continued: "We need to start posting the points to move up the league but we're not going to start panicking about the fact that we are where we are.

"We need to keep pushing the improvement buttons and if we keep improving we'll start winning the three points and start climbing up the league."