Good evening and welcome back to all supporters to Kenilworth Road for tonight's game with Newport County for our second home fixture of the new season.

I would like also like to extend a warm welcome to our visitors from Newport, Dean Holdworth, his management team, the players, directors, officials and supporters who have made the trip from South Wales this evening.

We go into the game having obtained nine points from our first three games which is, by all accounts, a very pleasing beginning to the campaign for us.

Coming through the first three games with an 100% record is no mean feat, especially given the opposition we have faced over the past 10 days.

We knew going into the season proper after an excellent pre-season was always going to be tough and so it proved against Altrincham in our opening match.

I thought we played some terrific football and fully deserved to earn three points against a side who we failed to beat at Kenilworth Road last season.

After taking the lead it was obviously frustrating to be pegged level from Altrincham's only shot on target but what was most pleasing was the way we kept patience and that was rewarded when Matthew Barnes-Homer scored the winner with two minutes left.

That goal crowned a fine striker's display from Matthew and he and team followed that up with another excellent performance at Kettering three days later.

I mentioned in the build-up to the game at Rockingham Road that last season we failed to score and only earned one point against Kettering last season.

We knew that it was going to be a really tough test but to come through it with three points and three goals was incredibly heartening.

Once again the football we played at times was a joy to watch and despite the fact Kettering had two men sent-off I thought we were full value for the victory which took us to the top of the table.

I told the players and informed the press that I knew the game at Fleetwood on Saturday would be no easy ride following their promotion from the Blue Square Bet North last season.

Mickey Mellon has invested in a very strong squad and that showed last week when they comprehensively beat Mansfield 3-0.

As you can imagine I was delighted that we continued in the same vein following the win at Kettering with another professional, hard-working and eye-catching display.

Not many teams will go to Fleetwood and win 3-0 this season and to do it in the manner we did gives us a lot of confidence going into tonight's game.

Newport, like Fleetwood, were promoted last season as they ran away with the Blue Square Bet South championship, and will once again provide the group with a stern test this evening.

Dean Holdsworth's side have had a mixed beginning to life at this level but will no doubt relish the prospect of playing in front of a big crowd, backed by a large following themselves.

Teams raising their game when they come to Kenilworth Road is something we had to deal with last season and it is something we will endeavour to overcome during the course of this campaign too.

Our performances over the past three games will raise expectations amongst you, the supporter which is understandable.

It is up to myself and the coaching staff to keep the players focused on the bigger picture. Whatever the result come 9.30pm this evening there are still 42 games to go.

Keep with us and keep the faith.

Enjoy the game.

Richard.