IT’S not pretty, it’s not that fun to watch but things seem to be working for Newport County AFC at the moment.

High balls and crashing headers don’t make for the most entertaining of games, and for any young couples a trip to the cinema may be more romantic than standing on the freezing terraces of Rodney Parade for a Valentine’s Day match-up with Grimsby Town.

On Friday evening, the Exiles put in a brave performance to hold league leaders Doncaster Rovers even if it wasn’t the most entertaining of games.

Football is a game of fine margins and although it was a match-up between the top and the bottom, there were little between the two sides on the pitch.

Rovers’ quality was evident, their passing and creativity was good, just like back in September when County lost at the Keepmoat Stadium.

But the sandy, beach-like surface of Rodney Parade doesn’t favour stylish football.

Since Justin Edinburgh’s departure, County have only had seven home wins in League Two and in the ‘new squads’ that have been built from Terry Butcher and Warren Feeney neither seemed to have been fit for purpose on the ragged Rodney Parade surface.

By no means do County have to resort to long ball and aggressive tactics at home, but when that pitch begins to be battered by the winter rain and frost it makes playing football a lot harder.

When County play the teams who pass the ball around well and find space, they take advantage; Luton and Carlisle’s good football takes the literal meaning of the cliché ‘stopped in its track’.

This is the first time in a while that County are equipped for the pitch, this is a side who can bully teams in the air, can cross the ball into dangerous areas and force corners and free kicks from defenders.

But County are dynamic, only look to the likes of Jaanai Gordon or Josh Sheehan to inject some pace and creativity to the side.

A draw against Doncaster is no revival, five points separates us from safety and County are stuck in a relegation battle with teams of a much larger stature but we are improving week on week.

Crewe dismantled Grimsby 5-0 on the weekend, but I’d be more than happy with a 1-0!