BRAINTREE Town head to Newport County for their FA Cup Fourth Qualiying Round tie as “slight favourites” to progress, according to rival manager Justin Edinburgh.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender took over as manager at the Newport Stadium from former boss Anthony Hudson at the start of this month with The Exiles languishing in 23rd place in Blue Square Bet Premier.

Newport have moved up one place, but have won just three of their 18 league games going into today’s game against their ninth-placed Essex visitors seeking a place in tomorrow’s First Round Proper draw which will be live on ITV1 and ITV.com from 1.30pm.

Edinburgh said: “We’ve improved in the past few weeks and we need to maintain that and show it week in, week out.

“Personally, I would make Braintree slight favourites for the tie.

“They have been consistent and we need to stand up to them, work hard and let our enthusiasm shine through.

“First and foremost we need to do the horrible side of the game and work hard for each other and fight for the cause,” Edinburgh told Wales Online.

“We are progressing, but it’s too premature to say we’ve turned the corner.

“You have to look in stages and steps and we need to keep playing well and building a platform for ourselves.

“I need to see consistency from the players. I need to know I can trust them over a period of time.

“Players who are good one week and not the next are no good to me.

“A good run helps with league form because you gain confidence. The financial side is a big shot in the arm.”

Indeed, the �12,500 on offer for the winners is not to be sniffed at, nor is the prospect of drawing one of the 48 League One and Two clubs who will be in the hat tomorrow along with the winners of today’s 32 ties.

Braintree have already beaten today’s hosts this season - a 1-0 victory at the Amlin Stadium on September 17 courtesy of a Ben Wright goal.