Head coach Christian Fuchs believes showing a ruthless edge will be crucial as Newport County look to secure their Football League status.
The Exiles travel to face Walsall at the Bescot Stadium on Saturday, with Fuchs calling for greater decisiveness in both boxes as the season enters its final stages.
County begin an eight-match run-in that will define their League Two campaign, and are boosted by the return of centre-back Lee Jenkins, who has recovered from a shoulder injury. The squad will also include the experience of Liam Shephard and Ryan Delaney.
Fuchs admitted that taking chances was the only aspect missing from an otherwise strong performance in Tuesday night’s narrow defeat to Bromley.
“I have been very happy for a long time that the boys are creating chances,” he said. “We played well, but in those deciding moments we weren’t good enough.
“We need to be better in those moments. We create chances that need to be put away, because we did concede.
“There are deciding moments. What happens between the boxes doesn’t matter if you don’t get the end product. That is what decides games. I would take the three points any day.”
Despite the defeat, recent results mean County remain just outside the relegation zone, with key fixtures still to come in the run-in.
“This is something the boys have worked hard for,” Fuchs added. “Two weeks ago we climbed out of the relegation area. Then we dropped back into it, and now we are out again.
“You can see how much that helps the players’ belief. We didn’t get the result against Bromley, but we are still outside the relegation zone and that reflects what the boys have achieved over the last month.”
Fuchs admitted there was disappointment after the Bromley result, but believes the performance showed what his side are capable of.
“Right after the game there was disappointment, but for the right reasons,” he said. “We lost a game that we felt we should have won.
“Bromley are a good team and they took their moment. But when I look at our performance, I am very proud of the players.
“We controlled the game from the start to the end, played with freedom and produced some really good football. There is a lot to build on.”
Attention now turns to a Walsall side looking to regain momentum, but Fuchs expects another tough test.
“They have had good results in their last two games,” he said. “You can see they are a hard side to beat, similar to us.
“We are a team that is successful through collective effort, but the basics need to be right. There is individual responsibility in every position, but also the importance of the team as a whole.”
