WALES – or ‘Ryan Giggs’ Wales’, to give them their full name – were brought back down to earth with a bump on Sunday with the former Manchester United star admitting afterwards that his team is still a work in progress.

Newport County AFC – also known as ‘little old Newport’ or even Newport Town AFC in some parts – are still flying high but manager Michael Flynn also knows that his side are far from the finished article.

Giggs, never one to get over-emotional in public, did not allow himself to get too excited by the thumping win over the Republic of Ireland and he remained fairly upbeat despite the 2-0 defeat in Denmark.

He’s not getting carried away by an encouraging start to his reign as national boss and that is very much the message coming out of the County dressing room right now.

Saturday’s win at Oldham Athletic ensured his side drew level on points with League Two leaders Lincoln City at the top of the table but Flynn joked afterwards that he has banned any mention of the ‘p-word’ amongst his players.

With five wins and 16 points from the first seven games, this is the club’s best ever start to a Football League season in 66 campaigns dating back to 1920.

But Flynn maintains that the table “means nothing” at this stage of the season and numerous members of the squad have trotted out the classic “taking each game as it comes” line.

It’s an understandable and prudent way to answer the inevitable questions after such a superb start because the manager and his players know that there will be bumps in the road between now and May.

It’s hugely encouraging that the Exiles have shown many different qualities to win their last four matches in League Two – dominating Grimsby Town and Notts County at home and digging in to win at Port Vale and Oldham.

Flynn’s men have produced plenty of entertaining attacking football at Rodney Parade so far this season and have won all three home matches in the league.

And away from Rodney Parade they’ve also demonstrated that they have the steel to go with the style.

After that opening day defeat at Mansfield Town, the Exiles have produced three near-perfect away performances with a creditable draw at Exeter City preceding the victories at Vale Park and Boundary Park.

It’s fair to say, however, that they have ridden their luck at times over the past fortnight with Port Vale hitting the woodwork twice and Oldham missing several decent chances on Saturday.

And, apart from a blistering 4-1 win at Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup first round, they have not been blowing teams away.

The five league wins have all been courtesy of a single-goal advantage and Flynn bemoaned his side’s failure to kill off Crewe Alexandra, Notts County and Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade.

Crewe and Grimsby were beaten 1-0 when the margin of victory should have been greater and the Magpies nearly stole a point after equalising at the death before Jamille Matt poked in a dramatic stoppage-time winner.

On the road they have been clinical with far fewer chances and – despite moments of fortune – they have defended for their lives and shown their undoubted team spirit to claim the points, if not the plaudits from opposition managers and fans.

But each result has been in the balance right up until the final whistle and, while they’re going County’s way at the moment, those tight games will inevitably go against them at some point over the course of a long season.

And with a small squad and a tight budget, Flynn knows that he will have to manage his resources carefully and hope for good luck with injuries and suspensions.

That is why he and his coaching staff are not allowing themselves or their players to get carried away and why he’s trying to keep a lid on the fans’ expectations.

Most long-suffering County fans will also be aware that things can quickly turn against their side but it shouldn’t stop anyone enjoying what has been an exceptional start to the season.

And hopefully a successful side will begin to attract more people through the turnstiles at Rodney Parade.

Around 3,000 Exiles supporters have watched the two Saturday afternoon home games so far this season and the club will be hoping to get that figure up towards the 4,000 mark this weekend for the visit of Yeovil Town.

Bring a relative, a friend, a friend of a friend. A win could take County clear at the top of the table and you wouldn’t want to miss that.