Newport County manager Christian Fuchs is adamant his side will ride the wave of pressure heading into Saturday’s final-day relegation shoot-out at Barrow’s SO Legal Stadium.
A win over the rock-bottom hosts would secure Newport County’s place in the Football League for a 14th consecutive season, ensuring continued trips to the likes of Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and Gillingham.
Anything less could allow fellow strugglers Crawley Town and Harrogate Town the opportunity to move above Newport County on the final day.
Fuchs acknowledges the high stakes on the west Cumbrian coast.
“This is the last game of the season,” he said. “We need to do something we haven’t managed to do all season and that’s achieve back-to-back league wins.
“We don’t want to be relying on other people’s results. We know exactly what the set-up is. If you have things in your own hands, you don’t want to lose that.”
Quizzed on how he handled pressure during his playing career, the former Austria international explained:
“You have to realise what pressure actually is. It’s just an escalation of heart rate, it’s feelings.
“If you take a step back, look at the game plan and ask ‘what do I need to do?’, refocus, be calm and compose yourself, then it is fine. What do I need to do in that game? What can happen?
“That’s how I dealt with pressure. It’s just another game and that hasn’t changed since I was six years old.”
Fuchs insists Newport County can handle whatever Barrow throw at them.
“We work with the players on how to deal with pressure,” he added. “It’s always a privilege to be in a pressure situation because it means there is something to play for.
“Oldham was a critical game at home, a real roller-coaster of a win. I have a team that deals with pressure and there will be nothing different this Saturday.”
Barrow, now under their fifth manager of the season, are led by former Newport County favourite Sam Foley, who replaced Dino Maamria in March and is working alongside ex-manager Graham Coughlan.
Fuchs expects a difficult test against a side still fighting for survival.
“I think they will push hard initially,” he said. “We know what we are up against. I expect them to come hard at us.
“It’s a tough situation for them. This is their last hope and they will try everything to turn things around.
“If we start aggressively, on the front foot, with intensity and resilience, be hard to break down and keep a clean sheet, then the result will come and space will open up.”
A failure to win would leave Newport County dependent on results elsewhere, but Fuchs is focused only on his side.
“Yes, you will be aware of other results automatically,” he said. “But if we do our job right and play our part, it doesn’t really matter.”
The Amber Army will once again travel in numbers, with more than 900 supporters making the 530-mile journey to Cumbria.
“It’s incredible support,” said Fuchs. “It just shows how dedicated our fanbase is. It’s a very long trip to Barrow and it feels really good.
“We haven’t managed back-to-back league wins all season and the fans making this trip deserve to see us getting the three points.
“After the win against Oldham, you saw how much it means. The supporters care about the club, the players and the team. It means the world to them.”
Newport County will be without Lee Jenkins, who has not recovered from a head injury sustained in the 3-2 victory over Oldham, while Courtney Baker-Richardson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Liam Shephard is expected to return.
Victory at Barrow would make it four wins in seven matches and Fuchs believes his side is ready.
“It’s about being resilient and taking our chances,” he said. “We need to take as much fire out of the game as possible and play a professional game.
“I always remind them it’s about focusing on ourselves and remembering the things that made us strong and got us points. The last three games have put us in a good place.”
