Mike Flynn says the Exiles are ready to bounce-back from defeat at Luton Town last weekend as Yeovil Town prepare to visit Rodney Parade on Saturday.
The game at Kenilworth Road came at the end of three games in a week for County, a period in which the Exiles picked up six points.
And Flynn says the squad have benefited from having a mid-week break and will be ready for another tough test at home.
“This week has been fine,” he said.
“We’ve taken it as a normal week because we’ve put the Luton result behind us. We spoke about the game afterwards and we put it to bed.
“We’ve got a great bunch of lads at this football club. One thing I’ll never question is their effort. I know I was pretty harsh after Morecambe but it wasn’t the effort, it was more them being a shadow of themselves and their identity at this football club.
“It was an off-day there and the pleasing thing at Luton was the response that I got second-half.
“We’ve now rested up from the game, good training sessions, the boys have worked really hard and we’re now working towards Saturday.”
Talking specifically on Yeovil he added: “Yeovil will be another difficult challenge. They are a battling team, got some good players and will come here and want to take the points.
“If you don’t work your opponent then every game will be twice as difficult so we have to be up for it, treat them with respect and hopefully we’ll come away with the points.
“It’s nice that Yeovil have picked up some good results, they are ticking along and it will be another tough test that we will have to prepare right for.”
The game will represent a big milestone for Glovers manager Darren Way. He will celebrate his 100th game in charge of the club at Rodney Parade, and Flynn says that is a tremendous accomplishment for the 37-year old to achieve.
He continued: “He might not be celebrating his achievement on Saturday at 16:50 but of course, it’s good to see Darren getting 100 games under his belt.
“He is Yeovil through and through and he’s doing well for a young manager. It’s tough, I don’t suppose that he’s got the biggest of budgets but he’s hanging on in there and he’s given it a good go.”
Recent reports have also suggested that experienced manager Harry Redknapp is joining the club to assist Way in an advisory role.
And Flynn says that is a positive step forward from the Huish Park outfit.
“Harry has a wealth of experience,” he affirmed.
“I’m not sure how much he knows about League 2 so it may take him a few weeks to get used to the players and the league.
“But listen, he’s a well-known character and I’m sure he will be a tremendous help for Darren this season.”
The game at Rodney Parade will see the Exiles attempting to maintain their unbeaten home start to the season, in a record which stretching back to March, actually sees the team unbeaten in over 200 days at Rodney Parade.
But Flynn says he won’t let the players get carried away with that statistic, although he does want it to continue for as long as possible.
“It’s not a bad record,” he affirmed.
“But listen, I won’t be taking anything for granted on Saturday. I’ll treat it the same as my first game, like I do for all games but I certainly won’t be telling them to take it easy because we haven’t lost there for 200 days.
“You’ll never get any of that from me and I know the players wouldn’t do that anyway because that run needs to continue and we want to extend it.
“We try and play good football and we make sure that we defend properly. It’s the basics of football but thankfully we are getting it right at the moment, especially at home.”
Asked on whether Rodney Parade could now be considered as a fortress, Flynn replied that he is happy to see that it is becoming a tough place for opposition teams to come and visit.
He continued: “I wouldn’t say teams fear coming to Rodney Parade but I would say that they know that they are in for a game now. It’s a tough place to come now and teams are going to have to do something extremely good to take all three points from us.
“At the same time, it’s football and anything can happen. It could be a ricochet in the dying seconds, so nothing will be taken for granted.
“I just want us to keep on improving and I want us to maintain our beliefs and our commitment and attitude.”
The encounter with Yeovil will be the first time that County have played in October.
And while Frank Nouble won the August player of the month award, the front-man failed to score throughout September.
But Flynn says he has been pleased with the output from his striker and has challenged him to rediscover his form.
“He’s got to keep working hard for the team,” he added.
“Frank is a great lad but on the other hand, we can’t put all the pressure onto Frank.
“We need other players to be chipping in with goals, we need the midfielders to get some too so it was good to see Joss score on Saturday. Mickey chipped in with two goals as-well at Crawley so we don’t just depend on Frank to score goals but it would be nice for him to get a few on Saturday.
“He’s already scored the highest total that he’s managed over a season in his career so he’s doing alright. He’s said himself that he has been frustrated but I have no doubt that there is more to come and hopefully he takes that frustration out of Yeovil on Saturday.”
Demetriou’s double at Crawley saw the defender move onto three goals for the current campaign, taking his total tally to seven from 23 league outings.
And Flynn says it is good to see Demetriou continue his rich vein of scoring form this season.
“It’s really good,” he said.
“It’s not just his defensive capabilities because he chips in with the goals. I’d be disappointed if he didn’t get ten goals this season, especially with the penalties thrown in as-well.
“He’s a huge threat for us and long may it continue.”
The game at Luton saw the Exiles name the same team for the third consecutive game.
And Flynn said there may be some changes this time out.
“There might be,” he commented.
“There are a few players knocking on the door that I’ll be looking at if I’m honest.
“Sometimes in football when you get dropped, you don’t always deserve it. There’s reasons why, it may be in terms of the opposition and one player might be more suited to a specific opponent or player.
“There are circumstances like that which play a part so there are a few that have been knocking on the door, especially in training.”
In terms of team-news, the only concerns come in attack with Marlon Jackson still unavailable with the hamstring injury sustained in pre-season.
Flynn said: “Joe Quigley is away on international duty; Reece Cole has gone back to Brentford and that just leaves Marlon out through injury.
“Everybody else is up for contention at this moment in time.”
Away from the first-team, everybody at Newport County AFC was delighted to see Modou Touray called up and score on his debut for Wales U19s.
The striker scored the first goal in the 4-3 victory over Switzerland on Tuesday in Rhyl.
And Flynn was delighted for Touray to make such an impact on the big stage.
“I’m really delighted for Modou,” he affirmed.
“He’s a great kid, he’s been with us now for most of the season and gone on loan to Merthyr which I think has helped him.
“Getting that physicality in the men’s league does help and by all accounts, he looked the most senior player for Wales.
“I think that says a lot about him because he’s definitely getting stronger and I’m made up for him and his family.”
Don't miss the match!