PADRAIG Amond insists Newport County will take the “bull by the horns” at Rodney Parade today, as they look to make an explosive start to the new decade.

The Exiles begin 2020 nine points off the League Two play-off places and in serious need of a victory to end a run of nine games without a win dating back to October 19.

Irish striker Amond rescued a point against Leyton Orient on Sunday, and it’s all three the 31-year-old wants from County’s New Year’s Day clash with Cheltenham Town (kick-off 3pm).

“We’ll make sure that when we go again on New Year’s Day we don’t give the opposition an easy way into the game, and we take the bull by the horns early on,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s going to be as high-scoring as the EFL Trophy game (when County won 7-4 at Cheltenham), but it’s important we get back to winning ways.”

A poor start last time out meant County were always chasing the game, something Amond says they can ill-afford to keep doing.

“We gave ourselves that mountain to climb,” he added.

“Not that it makes a negative atmosphere about the place, because the suppporters were fantastic, and they haven’t had much to cheer about recently, but we need to do better.

“We don’t have to give a team a leg up in a game.

“If we can nullify that then results will start to get better and we can go on some sort of a run, like we did last year.

“We do know it is going to be tough, but we are capable of doing that.”

Amond came off the bench to save Newport slipping to another loss on Sunday after Jamille Matt and Tristan Abrahams were giving starting places by boss Michael Flynn.

And it isn’t the first time this season that Amond has made a goal scoring intervention as a substitute.

“You’re always disappointed when you don’t start a game,” he said.

“As a striker, you always have a chance to come on and make a big impact, especially when you’re a goal down.

“It’s about watching the game and seeing where the weaknesses are in the opposition, seeing where you can exploit when you go on and take your chance when you do go on.

“It’s frustrating when you’re sitting on the bench but that’s where you have to be clever, not just waiting for the manager to give you the shout.”

He added: “It was nice to score again, but I want to score on New Year’s Day and start 2020 with a bang!

“I want to score as many as I can, but it’s important that whoever gets a chance takes that chance and we go on some sort of a run, but we need to start soon.”

Today’s opponents, one place outside the play-offs, are chasing a first league win in five after three draws and a loss from their last four outings under manager Michael Duff.