MANAGER Graham Coughlan has vowed that Newport County AFC will ‘roll their sleeves up’ despite being down to the bare bones for today’s League Two clash with Harrogate Town.
The Exiles were only able to name six players on their bench for Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Colchester and they then suffered another injury blow when defender Declan Drysdale limped off.
He is a doubt for the meeting with Harrogate at Rodney Parade while a lengthy injury list features centre-backs James Clarke (groin), Kyle Jameson (hip) and Matt Baker (hamstring), left-back Adam Lewis (quad), midfielder Harry Charsley (ankle) and strikers Seb Palmer-Houlden (hamstring) and Offrande Zanzala (knee).
Coughlan is without key senior figures and has had to lean on young talent such as Matty Bondswell, Josh Seberry, Kiban Rai, Lewis Payne and Ollie Thomas plus EFL novice Nathan Wood.
However, the manager won’t allow any wallowing as 14th-placed County hunt back-to-back wins to keep their strong Rodney Parade record going.
“There is no light at the end of the tunnel but every manager has it over the course of the season. We won’t make excuses or whinge and moan,” said Coughlan.
“As at Salford and Colchester, our lads will just roll their sleeves up and get on with whatever is chucked at them.
“It’s just our time for a spate of injuries and bad luck. I wouldn’t like to use that as an excuse because every club will find themselves in a situation like this at some stage.
“It’s something we have to accept, roll our sleeves up, circle the wagons and get on with it.”
Seven days ago County were unlucky to lose 2-1 at Salford City but they responded well to enjoy a first win since August against Colchester thanks to goals by Will Evans and Omar Bogle.
“I can’t help but think we should have had more points, our performance levels were really good up at Salford and at home to Colchester,” said Coughlan.
“It’s been a good week footballing-wise. With the work rate, attitude and commitment, I am really pleased with where the boys are and the chances that we are creating.”
Harrogate are one point behind the Exiles after losing at home to Wimbledon on Tuesday, a disappointment after impressive wins against Salford and MK Dons.
The Sulphurites, who won 3-2 at Rodney Parade in April, made it to the Football League in 2020 and have finished 17th, 19th and 19th.
“Harrogate have the longest-serving manager in the division. They evolve each season and keep growing to get stronger,” said Coughlan.
“They have changed the way that they play – I think our fans will be pleasantly surprised. They like to look after the ball a lot more and are a little bit more open and expansive than they were previously.
“They are a tight team, they don’t give up an awful lot of chances as their goals against would suggest. Sometimes when you do that you don’t score an awful lot.
“I don’t expect it to be a massively free-flowing game, it will be a battle and could be a grind at times.
“Harrogate will probably have most of the ball given the way they play so it will be an interesting game and a tough encounter, as always in League Two.”
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