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PRE-MATCH | Wayne Hatswell: "We want to put the Mansfield defeat behind us with a positive display"

20 August 2021

Interviews

PRE-MATCH | Wayne Hatswell: "We want to put the Mansfield defeat behind us with a positive display"

20 August 2021

Newport County AFC assistant manager Wayne Hatswell is ready to take the reins if Michael Flynn is unable to make the trip to Tranmere Rovers.

The Exiles boss has reported coronavirus symptoms ahead to the visit to Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.

Flynn is now awaiting the results of a PCR test to see if he will be able to travel to Birkenhead, but Hatswell is on stand-by and is prepared to take charge.

"I will be the normal me, I won't be any different," said the assistant manager. 

"I want what is best for the team and if he's not there then he trusts me to do it. I will give it my best as I always do and he knows that it's in good hands."

The Exiles will be looking to bounce back against Micky Mellon’s side after suffering a defeat against Mansfield Town - their first of the campaign -  at the One Call Stadium last weekend.

County were out of action in midweek after the fixture against Northampton Town was pushed back until next month, which presented Hatswell with a rare opportunity to take in a scouting trip on this weekend's opposition.

"The postponement gave me the opportunity to go and watch Tranmere which I never get to do," added Hatswell.

"It’s a bit different to normal but we’ve had a bit longer to prepare, but we’ve got the travelling added to it and they haven’t had the schedule that we’ve had. 

"It's is a massively important game for us. We know it's a big week but we know that we have a tough game on Saturday.

"We want to put the Mansfield defeat behind us with a positive display and a positive result.

"The way that our fixtures have gone, we need to keep picking up points. If that’s a draw then it’s a good point away from home because it’s tough to win away from home in our league."

It will be County's final fixture before the eagerly-anticipated Carabao Cup second round tie against Southampton at Rodney Parade, which will welcome back County supporters in their numbers for the first time in more than 17 months. 

But Hatswell says the occasion is at the back of the Exiles' minds ahead of Saturday's clash.

"It hasn't even been mentioned.

"That is what the group are like, it's just about the next game.

He added: "We have played half the Premier League now, they have just got used to it! They just carry on as normal."


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