Newport County aim to impress home fans

After a confidence-boosting win on the road, Newport County return to Rodney Parade looking to make up for their dismal show at home last time out.

Head coach Nelson Jardim says his squad will be looking to atone for their poor performance in the 3-0 defeat at home to Chesterfield as they take on Fleetwood Town on Saturday.

The loss to the Spireites contributed to a dismal run of three consecutive reverses for the Exiles.

But Newport ended that sequence last Tuesday when they won 2-0 at Gillingham.

Jardim said: “That was one of those games that can only give you confidence in the way you are working and the way the boys are performing.

“It was a very positive win but we must carry on what we are doing and what we are believing in.”

And he admitted the visit of Fleetwood, just a place behind Newport in the League Two table in 14th, would be a chance to banish the fans’ memories of the last home game.

He said: “The fans have been great to us. It is always disappointing when we don’t win, but as a coach I can’t promise we will win every game. But I can promise everyone in the club is doing their best every day.”

Newport were trailing within the first minute against Chesterfield but will be buoyed by their midweek result as they take on a Fleetwood side managed by former Scotland and Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam.

The Lancashire club are currently a place behind Newport standing 14th in the League Two table having lost their last two games.

But they have proven adept on their travels, collecting 10 of their 16 points on the road with three wins and a draw.

Newport have been assessing midfielder Bryn Morris who was taken off at half-time at Gillingham with a knock and Jardim believes that precautionary measure will pay off.

He said: “Sometimes you have to make big decisions and when you are winning 2-0 at half-time, we knew that second half was going to be tough.

“We cannot afford to lose a player like Bryn as well, so you have to take a good decision. It has proven it was a good decision, we have saved the player and managed to win the game.”