Newport ready to spoil Bradford’s party and finish on a high

NEWPORT COUNTY are ready to be party poopers at Bradford City today as they aim to finish the season on a high and ruin the hosts’ promotion hopes, writes Andrew Penman.

County’s play-off challenge has collapsed in dramatic fashion with seven successive defeats, and they are desperate to end that wretched run with a victory that would halt Bradford’s charge towards the top seven on the final day.

Graham Alexander’s men have won five of their last six games, and they need another victory at Valley

Parade to be in with a chance of beating Barrow and Crawley Town to the final play-off spot.

“It’s a brilliant game, I’d love to be able to pull my boots on and go out there in front of 22,000 fans and represent the club and go in the mixer with the lads,” said Exiles boss Graham Coughlan.

“It would be right up my street and you will see what one or two players are made of.

“They will either step up to the challenge or they will melt because it’s definitely a hostile arena.

“It’s Bradford’s players as well that will need to handle the occasion.

“It’s one that I am really looking forward to – I don’t love the period we are in at the moment but if ever you wanted a game to come out of that run it is this. Go up to Bradford and try to salvage something from your season.

“If you want to be a winner, if you want to be successful and be at this club next year, you need to turn up,” added Coughlan.

“Can we do that? That’s a question still hanging over the squad because it looks like we can’t win an argument at the moment, let alone a football game.

“I know that they are giving their best and I know that they are trying, that’s not in doubt, but it’s just the quality moments offensively and defensively that we need to be better at.

“That comes with experience, nous, legs, energy and confidence. If ever you could restore confidence, pride, professional standards and give a little bit back to your club it would be this game.”

Coughlan received the backing of chairman Huw Jenkins this week, which he admitted was much needed.

“I appreciate a little bit of support,” said the Irishman.

“It was badly needed because I needed somebody to help me because it is a very lonely place when you are not winning football matches.

“We want to win to finish the season on a high, if that’s even possible [because of the losing streak].

“For the club, the fans, and the players, we need to win. We want to stop the bleeding.”