Newport County manager Christian Fuchs believes a clear mindset and greater ruthlessness in front of goal will be key as his side look to secure their Football League status.
County return to Rodney Parade on Saturday to face Oldham Athletic in their final home match of the season, with everything still to play for in the battle to avoid relegation.
Reflecting on last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town, Fuchs admitted the result was a blow but praised the way his players have responded.
“Obviously we are human beings, we have to deal with all the feelings,” he said. “But I have seen all season how well the team deals with knockbacks.
“We gave them two days off to get their thoughts away from football, from the environment, just to be with their families. That was important at this stage of the season because you need to clear your mind.
“It doesn’t matter if you are playing for promotion or against relegation, it’s about a clear mind on the day because that is where the pressure is.”
Despite the setback, Fuchs insists nothing has changed in terms of County’s position.
“We still have things in our own hands and that is a strong force to have in the back of your head,” he added. “We’ll be giving our answers out on the pitch.”
The County boss was left frustrated not to take anything from Cheltenham after what he felt was a strong performance.
“We need to be more ruthless in front of goal and start games on the front foot,” he said. “I think we were clearly the better team and created more chances.
“We’ve spoken about this all season. We have been the better side between the boxes, but when it comes to last-ditch defending or taking chances, we’ve come up short.
“On a positive note, we played a really good game and created a lot, which now need to be taken.”
Attention now turns to Oldham Athletic, with Fuchs expecting a competitive contest despite their opponents having little to play for in terms of league position.
“We will need to put our stamp on the game,” he said. “I don’t see it as an advantage because you still need to put in the work. Nobody wants to lose.
“They might play with a bit more freedom, but they will have pride. They are a very direct team and have a strong striker, so winning first and second balls will be vital.”
County are boosted by the return of Joe Thomas and Michael Spellman, while Courtney Baker-Richardson could also feature. Nathan Opoku is expected to miss out through injury.
With a bumper crowd expected at Rodney Parade, Fuchs was keen to highlight the role of the Amber Army once again.
“We saw at Cheltenham how supportive our fans are,” he said. “They have been incredible and I am very grateful for that.
“It will be no different this weekend. The Amber Army will be right behind us and we will need that energy. Together we can make something happen.”
With a trip to Barrow still to come on the final day, Fuchs knows there is no margin for error but insists his players are ready.
“We are in good spirits,” he said. “They believe in themselves and have looked really sharp in training this week.
“Now it’s about delivering on the pitch.”