NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh is expecting a quiet transfer deadline day after Saturday’s win at Portsmouth but he’s refusing to rule out comings and goings at Rodney Parade.

The Football League transfer window closes at 11pm tonight and Edinburgh would like to add to his squad after losing Rene Howe to a serious thigh injury last week.

But any move to strengthen is dependent on players moving out to balance the budget.

“There’s no question that if anyone leaves then that would free up funds to bring someone in,” said the Exiles boss.

“I would doubt anything will happen but football is a crazy business so you never know.”

Fresh blood or not, County will be full of confidence after claiming their first victory of the new season at Fratton Park, courtesy of Andy Sandell’s free-kick on 84 minutes.

The club captain, who was dropped last week, came off the bench to snatch all three points for his side with a curling effort that evaded everyone and found the bottom corner of the net.

“We needed that little bit of luck,” said Edinburgh, who saw his side win at Portsmouth for the second time in nine months.

“We’ve been punished for mistakes over the last few weeks and the pendulum has swung our way.

“The goal was fortunate but I’ve always said that in football you make your own luck and it went our way.

“Sands struck it well and we were delighted to see it nestling in the back of the net.

“I’m glad for him because he started the season as captain and he’s had to take it on the chin but he’s responded well.

“It was a very competitive game and a real complete away performance from us,” he added.

“We attacked when we could and defended well and Joe Day only had one save to make in the second half.

“It’s been a good ground for us with three goals and none against and six points and we’re off the mark now.

“I have a belief in this squad that we can compete at this level and we showed that.”

Due to this week’s Nato summit, County are not in action until the home game with Cambridge United next Monday night so they’ll play a behind closed doors friendly on Tuesday.

“The other teams play in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday but we’ve got to wait and we could do without that,” said Edinburgh.

“It’s disappointing because everyone knows in football that confidence and momentum is key and we’ve got to make sure that we build on this result.

“We’ve arranged a behind closed doors friendly against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, which we need for some of the lads who haven’t played and to keep everyone ticking over.”