Head coach Nelson Jardim has challenged Newport County to finish the season strongly and give the club a platform to build on.
The Exiles take on Chesterfield at the SMH Group Stadium tomorrow afternoon following their midweek win over Gillingham at Rodney Parade.
And Jardim is eager to build on that performance and result as they approach the final 12 games of the campaign.
“The mood in the camp is really positive after the win,” Jardim said, reflecting on the Gillingham triumph. “But the most important thing is the performance. Going into every game, we want to perform well.
“This week, the message has been about consistency. The challenge for this team now is to maintain that consistency.
"We expect the team to perform at their highest level week in, week out. We know we won’t win every game, but if we perform to our best ability, we can compete with anyone and win more games.
"It’s all about teamwork at this club, and that’s been the message from the start. The players understand it’s a team effort. When we don’t have that, it’s a problem. Hard work, teamwork, and quality on the pitch are the basics.
“Everyone works hard on the training pitch, and that’s why we’re here. It’s been a tough season, especially at the start as we got to know each other, but the effort has always been there. However, it’s not about how well we’ve done up until now; it’s about how we continue to progress.
“Football can change quickly, so what’s behind us is behind us. It’s all about the future and how we can build on the positives of this season. I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, but now it’s about what we can get from the rest of the season.
“It’s about finishing the season strongly, as that will set the tone for next season.”
He added, “Our mindset can’t change at this point in the season. We have a clear way of leading and coaching the players, and we’re very clear on what we want from the remainder of the season."
The Exiles head north looking to build momentum in the final weeks of the season, and Jardim has urged his side to improve their away form.
“Our away form is something we need to improve,” he admitted.
“We know how tough it is to play away from home, especially with a young squad. We have to understand the challenges and reasons behind it.
“One thing we need to work on is reducing the number of goals we concede from set-pieces. We must minimise corners, play higher up the pitch, and remain more compact.
“These are all areas we’re focused on improving, which will help strengthen our away form.”
