BARROW ....... 1 NEWPORT CTY ....... 0
NEWPORT COUNTY manager Graham Coughlan pulled no punches after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at a blustery Barrow, accusing his players of a “lack of hunger and desire” to win.
The hosts scored the only goal of the game after 20 minutes when former Exiles star Dom Telford teed up Cole Stockton to fire past Nick Townsend.
County never looked like forcing their way back into the contest, managing only two shots on target, and Coughlan was in no mood to look for positives.
“We got what we deserved out of the game and the most disappointing part was the lack of hunger and desire to go and win a game,” said the manager.
“When you want to get into the top 10 you have got to show a lot more hunger and desire, you need to win battles and your individual duels. We didn’t win enough first contacts and second balls, too many players had an off day.
“The conditions were awful for both teams – it was a really difficult day, I get that – but that shouldn’t have anything to do with desire, work rate, attitude and commitment. This group has that in abundance, but we didn’t display that today.”
The defeat is a blow to County’s hopes of sneaking into the League Two play-offs. Coughlan’s men are now four points below seventhplaced Crawley Town having played a game more.
They host Crawley at Rodney Parade on Easter Monday, after a long trip to Colchester United on Good Friday. And Coughlan knows there is now very little margin for error if they are to stay in the mix.
“They have been magnificent all season, so I need to be careful and contain my emotions and anger,” added the Exiles boss. “That was an opportunity to go and build, to
do something and put another three points on the board but the way we went about it… I didn’t like the look of one or two players.
“I don’t like it when we haven’t got aggression and we haven’t got intensity, a purpose and a desire to work. I hope that nobody in there is resting on their laurels or putting their flip-flops on, or using the injury room as an excuse.
“I don’t want any excuses. There were one or two performances that I didn’t like.”
Goalkeeper Townsend is a doubt for Friday’s match after being forced off at half-time in Cumbria with a groin injury.
But defender Matt Baker will be back after missing out at Barrow because of international duty with Wales under-21s.
His starting spot was taken by 20-year-old academy graduate Harrison Bright, with senior men Ryan Delaney, James Clarke and Shane McLoughlin all ruled out by injury.