Newport confident Brighton tie won't derail promotion push

The Exiles will welcome Brighton to Rodney Parade on the weekend of January 9 but have eight fixtures before that tie in round three, starting against Morecambe this afternoon.

County are setting the pace in League Two but it's a crowded table with first team outside of the play-offs, Tranmere, just six points back on Michael Flynn's side, albeit after playing a game more.

Willmott played against Leeds and Tottenham (twice) in the FA Cup run of 2017/18 then the following year was in the side that stunned Leicester and Middlesbrough to earn a meeting with Manchester City's superstars.

Flynn has admitted that those big occasions had an impact on the Exiles' league form and December presents a chance to change the script by picking up points before entertaining Premier League opposition.

"We struggled with it over the years but are learning how to do it," said the versatile Willmott, who was a key figure in the round two win against Salford with his threat down the right flank.

"You really just have to forget about the FA Cup because this year we have got such a good chance in the league.

"With everybody beating everybody the league is more open than it's ever been. We really just have to forget about Brighton until the build-up in that week."

County drew with Morecambe the week before their first clash with Spurs then suffered a pair defeats leading into the replay.

The Wembley game was followed by a 5-0 hammering at Mansfield and three draws.

"I'm not going to lie, it is really hard to get out of your mind," said Willmott. "You don't want to get injured because it's such a big occasion.

"Gradually as we have been more successful in the cup competitions, the lads who have been here can tell the new ones about what we need to do and put things in place to forget about the cup."

County have more to lose this season if the cup impacts on the league; they sit top of the table with 30 points from a possible 42.

With Morecambe followed by a trio of away games at Grimsby, Leyton Orient and Salford, there is little chance of the Exiles getting carried away.

"We just take it game by game. Everyone says it when they are in our position but we really do," said Willmott, who has made 18 appearances so far this season.

"The staff don't let us get ahead of ourselves, we can't look past any fixture."

Willmott was a member of Justin Edinburgh's squad that earned a return to the Football League and the 30-year-old is hopeful that team spirit can help earn another promotion.

"There are similarities to that squad. Back then we had a really good team togetherness and this year that seems to be coming out," he said.

"That's what you need in a promotion season, everyone working for each other.

"Back in that promotion year that is what we had; I signed in the January and they made it very easy for me to come in.

"That's what we do for the new lads, make it as comfortable for them as possible. We call it the Newport way with how the club is run and how we like do things off the field as a team."