Christian Fuchs believes Newport County’s recent performances are showing clear signs of progress as the Exiles prepare for Wednesday night’s Sky Bet League Two trip to Swindon Town.
Following Saturday’s goalless draw with Grimsby Town, the County boss feels there are plenty of positives to take as his side head into a demanding run of fixtures.
Reflecting on the Grimsby result, Fuchs acknowledged that opinions may differ on whether it was a point gained or two dropped.
“That can always be debated,” he said. “We had the penalty early on, and if that goes in it can direct the game in a completely different way.
“Grimsby had the better of us in the first half, but the boys were very resilient and defended well as a unit. In the second half, we got the better of them and created more.
“Considering how scrappy the first half was at times, I was really pleased with how we addressed things at half-time. We asked the boys to be a little more direct at times, but also to stay patient. That showed in the second half, and overall I was very happy with the performance.”
The clean sheet was another encouraging sign, with Newport limiting Grimsby to just two shots on target.
“I’m not surprised by the performance because I see the boys every day,” Fuchs added. “They care about the club, they care about the result, and they want to give everything for the fans.
Fuchs also spoke positively about the club’s recent signings, who are continuing to settle into life at Rodney Parade.
“Some players adapt quicker than others, especially when they’ve come from different leagues or countries,” he explained. “But they’ve integrated really well.
“We’ve got a great group of boys and a great group of characters who make everyone feel welcome straight away. We’ve already seen some really positive moments from the new signings. Sven had a brilliant game at the weekend, and Cole came in and did very well too. There’s more to come from them.”
With four of the league’s current top six sides on the horizon this month, Fuchs is relishing the challenge rather than fearing it.
“For us, it’s about taking it one game at a time,” he said. “We’ve already shown that we can perform against teams high up the table. These are the games where you show your character and quality, and I’m really looking forward to them.”
Despite a demanding schedule that includes several away trips, the focus remains firmly on preparation and recovery.
“We’ll make it as comfortable as possible for the players,” Fuchs said. “It’s not an easy week with three away fixtures, but we’ll manage the load and make sure the boys are ready for kick-off.”
Looking ahead to Swindon Town, who boast one of the most varied scoring records in the division, Fuchs believes the key lies in Newport’s own performance.
“They’ve got a lot of different goal scorers and they’re a threat from set pieces,” he noted. “But for me, it’s more about us. It’s about how resilient we are, how well we defend as a unit, and how we work together as a team.”
Finally, Fuchs feels his side are well placed to build momentum as February unfolds.
“The performances are going in the right direction,” he said. “We’ve taken eight points from our last five home games, and now it’s about creating momentum.
“In this league, things can change very quickly. Two wins can put you in a completely different position. The boys are working hard every day, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge at Swindon.”
Watch the full pre-match interview with Christian Fuchs in the video below.
