Head coach Christian Fuchs believes fast starts and the continuation of recent mid-table form will be crucial as Newport County look to secure their League Two status.
County slipped back into the bottom two following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Colchester United at Rodney Parade, while fellow strugglers Barrow picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Cheltenham Town.
The Exiles had entered the Colchester clash in encouraging form, taking seven points from a possible 12. Victories over Salford City and Tranmere Rovers, along with a goalless draw away at Fleetwood Town, saw County score six goals while conceding just twice.
Fuchs now takes his side to north-west London this weekend to face Barnet at The Hive Stadium, with the 10th-placed Bees still harbouring hopes of pushing into the play-off places.
Newport remain effectively one point from safety with ten games remaining. With rivals including Barrow, Crawley Town, Harrogate Town and Tranmere all battling near the bottom of the table, Fuchs knows the margins could prove decisive in the final stretch.
Reflecting on the defeat to Colchester, he said: “I have had a good amount of time to reflect on the game.
"I was pretty disappointed with the first 20 minutes. We were too passive and didn’t put enough pressure on the ball. We made it too easy for Colchester to build themselves into the game.
“In the second half we went after the ball and had the better of the game. With a bit of luck Bobby’s [Kamwa] shot hits the post and goes into the goal. We might have got a point.”
Lee Jenkins’ header deep into added time reduced the deficit late on, but Fuchs admitted County must improve their starts.
“Our start just wasn’t good enough,” he added.
“We need to set the tone. We addressed this as a group today and we’ll be setting this right in the next game.
“This first [slow] 30 minutes we have seen over a period of games now. I recognise this and I don’t like it at all. There is a lot of honesty in the group and now it’s about focusing on the next game.”
Colchester’s opening goal through Harry Anderson was contentious, with midfielder Matt Smith appearing to be impeded in the build-up, but Fuchs remained diplomatic when asked about the decision.
“We can always ask the question, but it’s about how we start games,” he said.
“There is frustration if it leads to a game-deciding goal, but we have to get on with it.
“We had a call in our favour against Tranmere when their player saw a red card and it helped us secure the three points. These things tend to even themselves out in the end. It’s about us and how we can do better.”
The former Leicester City defender insists the squad remain united as they approach the final ten matches of the campaign.
“We are one as a unit and we all want the same successful outcome.
“Everyone here wants to see success and that can only be achieved if we all pull together.
“People will always have their opinion. There are about 5,000 opinions in the stadium every week. It’s easy with hindsight to come to conclusions, but we set the team up in the best possible way. Once the players cross the line they have to make the right decisions.
“There is a lot of noise out there, but we will deal with it. It doesn’t bother us. The group is close.”
Fuchs also pointed to the encouraging signs he and his staff are seeing on the training ground.
“When you look at recent games, where do you think we would be in the table? We’d be tenth.
“There are a lot of good things happening that people might not notice because of where we are in the table.
“There is a clear trend. We have a real chance of survival in this league. Every single game now is a priority and we have to go into each one with the mentality to win.”
With ten matches remaining, the County boss admits the focus must simply be on collecting as many points as possible.
“If I had a crystal ball right now, I’d ask it,” he joked when asked about a points target for survival.
“But targets mean nothing if you don’t achieve them. Every single game now is like a cup final. It’s about going game by game and collecting as many points as possible.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s trip to Barnet, he added:
“You never really know what you are going to get from them. They can be flying and play well, or it can be the other way around.
“But the most important thing is focusing on ourselves. We will prepare properly and be ready for what’s coming.”
