Christian Fuchs praised Newport County’s resilience as his side earned a hard-fought point at Fleetwood Town.
The Exiles battled for their second goalless draw of the month, securing a first ever point at Highbury Stadium as a result.
“It was a very useful point,” Fuchs said. “The boys left everything out there. They put bodies in the way, fought for every ball, and showed exactly what we need.
"In the first half, we were under pressure, but we knew if we got through that, the second half could open up for us, which it did.”
County remain bottom of the League Two table, but closed the gap to two points behind their two nearest challengers.
It was just the second time this calendar year that County had kept a clean sheet, with Fuchs proud of his side's efforts.
“The defensive performance was excellent. Everyone battled, despite cramps and knocks. Will Davies had a chance late in added time, but Jordan Wright and the team dealt with it. This point is great for us.”
Michael Spellman was replaced by Tom Davies at half-time, with the manager explaining that this was a tactical change spurred on by the first-half.
“We doubled up on Ennis with Tom Davies coming on. He was causing problems, especially in one-on-one situations, and Ennis is a top player with well-known crosses. Doubling up helped us deal with that threat.”
Fuchs also praised the team’s mentality and character. “The whole group is very good. They care for each other, they care about the club, and they are prepared to put themselves on the line.
"They showed real resilience, especially in the first half and the last 10 minutes.”
On the impact of the result for the league run-in, he said: “We have it in our hands. We need to focus on our performance, show resilience, and be more of a goal threat.
"If we take care of our own game, the results will come. Having the fans behind us at home is a big boost, and we know these next two games at Rodney Parade are crucial.”
Fuchs concluded by reflecting on the team’s effort and focus.
“We limited our mistakes, kept things simple, and earned a well-deserved point away. The squad showed exactly the mentality we want going into the final stretch of the season.”
Newport County next face Tranmere Rovers at Rodney Parade on Tuesday evening (03 Mar).
