Newport boss makes rallying call ahead of Walsall visit
Newport County boss David Hughes has challenged his team to turn their home ground into a fortress as they aim to continue their revival.
County sit bottom of League Two but have shown significant signs of improvement over the past month, winning two of their last three league matches.
That was followed last weekend with a first triumph of the campaign at Rodney Parade when they knocked Gillingham out of the FA Cup on penalties.
Former Villa and Shrewsbury defender Hughes, in his first season as a manager in the EFL, is eager to continue the momentum.
He said: “The game is about the players. Our job is to try and support them and help them win.
“I keep saying it but I genuinely believe we have not played badly too often. My feeling is we are a better team than the league table suggests.
“However, we are there. We need to keep proving to people we have got real good grit and determination. This is a difficult place to come to and when Walsall come we need to serve up more of the same.”
A crowd of just over 2,500 were at Rodney Parade for the Cup win but the attendance is likely to be double that on Saturday.
The Saddlers have lost just one of their last six trips to the ground, with four of those matches ending in draws including April’s 0-0 draw, when Oisin McEntee had a late winner ruled out for handball.
“We have the league leaders coming here and we need to create the same atmosphere with the supporters and the players as we did last week,” said Hughes.
“We want to build on that performance and carry the same intensity and belief forward.”
