Newport County manager David Hughes says his side must use Tuesday’s clash with Salford City at Rodney Parade as an opportunity to respond positively to Saturday’s late setback at Grimsby Town.
The Exiles looked on course for a share of the points at Blundell Park before conceding in the 95th minute, leaving Hughes frustrated but keen to stress the importance of learning quickly and moving forward.
“That’s football. You travel up and down the country and sometimes teams score in the 95th minute to make it nervy and edgy – that’s the nature of the game. But what we’ve got to do is learn from Saturday, take those lessons on board, and make sure we eradicate those errors moving forward. We’ve spoken as a group about how to manage those situations better. The key thing is that the players take responsibility, understand what’s required in those moments, and then use that knowledge in the next game.”
Fortunately, the games are coming thick and fast, giving County a quick opportunity to bounce back. Hughes believes the visit of Salford City – a club who have consistently challenged in League Two – provides the ideal test.
“The games come thick and fast, and that’s a real positive for us. They’re great occasions to be involved in for the players, and Salford are another strong side with a good squad. We believe we’ve got plenty to play for and we’re really looking forward to it. The beauty of football is that you always have the chance to bounce back, and Tuesday is an opportunity to do exactly that.”
With the busy schedule in mind, Hughes revealed he and his staff will carefully manage the squad to ensure players, particularly the younger members of the team who are adapting to the demands of League Two.
“We’ll review things on Monday, see how the players are feeling and how they’ve recovered. With young players especially, you’ve got to build them up to that Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday regime. It’s all about making decisions that are right for individuals, because what’s right for individuals will ultimately be right for the team.”
Finally, Hughes paid tribute to the Amber Army and stressed how important their backing will be under the floodlights.
“The crowd has been terrific. They were fantastic against Notts County, brilliant again at Grimsby, and outstanding against Millwall. We want to give them something to cheer about, something to sing about. Hopefully we can give them a result – and a performance to match.”
