Exiles chief Christian Fuchs leads his troops into a Boxing Day fist-fight with Barnet at Rodney Parade with an emotional message to the Amber Army roaring, "We need your top support for 90-plus minutes every match, back us, be our 12th man and watch us rise up the league!"
County should have the backing of a bumper bank holiday gate at NP19 as they eagerly seek to chalk up a first home league maximum for over nine months - three points that should close matters up in the League Two basement, giving Port a chance to blast out of the relegation area, if a win can be followed by another three days later when Crewe visit Newport.
County's winless league run stretched to seven matches after a 4-1 hammering at Colchester last Saturday - the defeat attracting a torrent of brickbats from Port's loyal followers.
And Fuchs acknowledged, "I fully understand the criticism we have received from our fans of late. That's fine. If a side loses almost every week the fans are entitled to ask 'what is going on?'
"But I want the supporters to know that the players and club staff are going above and beyond to rectify the situation at this time. My message to the fans is when it comes to game day it helps the players to have your support. More than ever we need your backing.
"The players need to know that everyone is behind them. This is how we get out of the situation we are now in. We are all in this together."
Austrian Fuchs will be active in the January transfer window, as he looks to strengthen his squad in strategic positions. He has fit-again defender Matt Baker, 19-times capped Wales midfielder Matt Smith and right back Liam Shephard available for selection. Wideman Michael Spellman returns from a one-match suspension, and maverick schemer Kai Whitmore's calf strain might have eased. Attacker Gerard Garner is again ruled out through injury, though.
County will also look to extend Leicester City youngster Sammy Braybrooke's loan spell until the end of this season - young striker Nathan Opoku is also borrowed from the Championship Foxes.
Blonde-haired midfielder Braybrooke, a rising talent, surely destined for British soccer's top two tiers, scored Beckamesque from 60 yards against Colchester - likely, EFL's Goal of the Season.
Fuchs was staying tight lipped on Braybrooke, but did say, "It is obvious to everyone I have a relationship with my old club Leicester."
Mid-table Barnet are expected to include veteran raider Britt Assombalonga, the Congolese hit man who once cost Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest around £21m in transfer fees. The striker, now 33, has fired 148 strikes in 436 matches. Support attackers Callum Stead and Mark Shelton also offer potent goal threats.
But Fuchs feels three points extracted from the Bees, would be the sweetest Yuletide boost to County. He said, "A win would mean a lot to our club. When you are in every day, you can see how hard the boys are working toward their goal.
"They really care and are desperate to be away from the position they find themselves at this moment. Based on what I know about their individual characters, we will get out of trouble, we will turn this around.
"What I saw in the first half at Colchester was not what I am seeing on the training ground. It seems we need to be losing to start really playing almost as if this gives us that bit more freedom.
"So we must start quicker and stop making those unforced errors, reducing them in games to a minimum."
Asked if County would be dipping into the transfer market next month Fuchs said, "Talks are ongoing, nothing to report just yet. But I am speaking to the chairman [Huw Jenkins] and Chris Finn every day."
Meanwhile classy central defender Baker is keen to put smiles back on Amber Army faces saying, "We need to give our fans something to cheer about. They are always there for us. It's high time we repaid them for all their loyalty."
Fuchs says a brutely frank meeting earlier this week was necessary to clear the air after the events at U's JobServe Stadium.
"A lot of players had their say, including our younger players, he said, adding, "I felt things needed to be said about aspects of that performance that was, at times, really passive."
Meanwhile, Fuchs, a Premier League title and FA Cup winner during his six years at Leicester, believes County's league destiny will not be determined over the Christmas results,
He said, "We have a busy January. At the end of February we shall have half our fixtures remaining. At this stage if we lose a match, of course I am disappointed, but we can dwell. It's onto the next game then."
