Newport County

Aysha Rahman
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County boss Christian Fuchs says Matt Smith understood the reasons behind his early withdrawal during the Exiles' 3-1 defeat by Notts County on Monday.

Smith, who joined Newport County last summer, was taken off in the first half as Fuchs adjusted his side's shape in the contest against the Magpies.

"He (Smith) knew why I had to do it," Fuchs said.

"I explained my reasoning behind it, he was absolutely fine and I think up until then he played a fairly decent game.

"Matt is an experienced player. I had a conversation with him just before and explained why I had to do it, because we had a change in our shape, but he has taken it absolutely fine."

Fuchs said Smith and fellow midfielder Sven Sprangler - on loan from St Johnstone until the end of the season - handled their roles well before the change.

"I think Matt and Sven controlled the midfield as much as they could," added the Newport boss.

"I think they both did really well in there because they (Notts County) didn't have too many actions inside our box, everything up until 20 yards in front of our box."

Newport's defensive issues proved costly at Meadow Lane, with Fuchs pointing to set-pieces as a key factor.

"It was down to the two set-piece goals that we conceded, which again hurt us a lot," he added.

The Exiles now turn their attention to Saturday's crucial fixture against bottom side Harrogate Town at Rodney Parade (15:00 BST) as they bid to remain out of the League Two relegation zone.

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Christian Fuchs believes Newport County's display in the second half against promotion-chasing Notts County is the blueprint to avoiding relegation.

The Exiles suffered a 3-1 defeat to the third-placed Magpies at Meadow Lane on Monday.

They conceded twice from corners in the first half in Nottingham, Lucas Ness with both headers, before Harrison Biggins' clever finish on 65 minutes gave some hope.

The promotion hopefuls secured victory in the 86th minute through Jayden Luker's powerful finish.

Newport have a vital home fixture against bottom club Harrogate on Saturday with Fuchs demanding his side pick up where they left off.

"The boys had a good reaction in the second half and played with a lot of intensity, desire and heart," he insisted. "They left it all out there and that's the way forward."

Newport were helped by results going their way with the bottom two of Harrogate and Barrow plus fellow strugglers Crawley and Tranmere all losing.

The Exiles are 22nd and a point above the relegation zone with Saturday's fixture against Harrogate and a trip on the final day to Barrow, who have a game in hand.

The boys know they still have it in their own hands," said Fuchs. "The spirit in the second half showed what they are capable of doing, and that's what we need to continue."

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Relegation-threatened Newport County have been given a boost ahead of their League Two trip to Notts County after Magpies striker Alassana Jatta was banned for three games.

The promotion hopefuls will be without their 15-goal top scorer for Monday's fixture (15:00 BST).

Jatta accepted a Football Association (FA) charge of violent conduct for an incident in the 79th minute of Friday's 2-1 defeat by Salford City.

"The forward's behaviour around the 79th minute of the fixture wasn't seen by match officials at the time, but it was caught on video, and the FA subsequently alleged that it constituted violent conduct," read an FA statement.

"Alassana Jatta admitted the charge against him and accepted the standard punishment of a three-match suspension for violent conduct."

Jatta will also miss the fixtures against Cambridge United and Barnet.

Fourth-placed Notts, who are outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference, will still start as favourites at Meadow Lane on Monday.

Newport lost to rivals Crawley Town on Friday and are one place above the relegation zone, a point ahead of both Barrow and Harrogate Town.

The Exiles host Harrogate on Saturday and travel to Barrow, who have a game in hand, on the final day.

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Christian Fuchs says there were "honest words" shared with his Newport County players in the aftermath of the Exiles' 2-0 loss to Crawley Town.

The defeat leaves Newport just one place and one point above the League Two relegation zone with five matches left to play this season.

"We had quite a few honest words in the changing room," said manager Fuchs. "The boys are honest with themselves, we definitely believe in them.

"We need to look at ourselves in the mirror and see what we did wrong because I don't think it was a game that we should lose. It was a game where our mistakes were very costly."

He added: "It's a season of missed opportunities and that's unfortunately the case again."

Newport thought they had taken the lead shortly after the half hour mark at Rodney Parade when Bobby Kamwa netted, although the effort was disallowed for a handball by the 26-year-old.

And Harry McKirdy, who had a loan spell with Newport in 2019, netted twice in quick succession in the second half for the visitors who continued their improvement under new boss Colin Kazim-Richards to ease their own relegation fears.

However, Fuchs remains confident his side can respond to the setback with a more positive showing when they return to action at promotion-chasing Notts County on Monday (15:00 BST).

"I think first half we played decent football. We didn't create the amount of chances that we could have and unfortunately it was handball from Bobby Kamwa when we went 1-0 up," he said.

"The way some of the boys approached the second half was just not good enough."

But the Austrian added: "I'm believing 100% in the team. Usually when we have a performance like this, they roll up their sleeves and go again."

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Christian Fuchs says Newport County have to keep building momentum as they look to avoid League Two relegation.

The Exiles, who have been in the Football League since 2013, welcome fellow strugglers Crawley Town to Rodney Parade on Friday, 3 April (15:00 BST) in a crucial fixture.

After beating Shrewsbury 1-0 last weekend, Fuchs' side aim for back-to-back league wins for the first time this season to boost their survival hopes.

The manager believes his side must be difficult to beat if they are to get another three points on Friday.

"The aim is to build that momentum that we've been speaking about for a very long time," said Fuchs.

"I want the boys to go out there with confidence, be brave, be hard to beat and then just play our game the way they did in our last four games.

"It's about getting the basics right, making sure we fight for every inch on the pitch and make good decisions with and without the ball.

"We have the Amber Army to support us at Rodney Parade, I'm sure they will come in numbers to support us and push us forward."

Despite Newport's vital result, Crawley also picked up their first win since January 31 against Gillingham in Colin Kazim-Richards' first game as their new head coach.

The Red Devils are level on points with Newport and County boss Fuchs knows his side are in for a tough afternoon.

"They've changed their manager and in their last game they won 2-1, so they're a team that is fighting until the death and we're aware of that," said the Austrian.

"It's down to us to make sure that we get on the front foot and dominate.

"This game is important and I'm aware of that, but it is not the game that will define our season."

County will be boosted with the return of defender Lee Jenkins but midfielder Michael Spellman remains a doubt.

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Christian Fuchs says Michael Spellman and Lee Jenkins are closing in on a return to action for Newport County.

Spellman, 23, has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury in his side's 2-1 win at Barnet on 14 March.

Jenkins, 24, suffered a shoulder injury in Newport's 1-0 loss to League Two leaders Bromley on 17 March.

But Fuchs confirmed both Spellman and Jenkins could be in line to return to action against Crawley Town on Friday, 3 April (15:00 BST).

The former Austria international also says he has no concerns over defender Cameron Evans who was withdrawn in the latter stages of the Exiles' 1-0 victory against Shrewsbury Town.

"[Spellman and Jenkins] look close to returning. Lee might need a little bit longer, but he's tough as well," the Newport head coach told BBC Sport Wales.

"Spellers, we'll see how fit he is for Crawley."

Newport - currently 22nd - sit two points above the fourth tier's relegation zone with six matches left to play this season.

They are level on points with next opponents Crawley who are 21st having scored twice in added time to ease their own relegation fears with a 2-0 triumph over Gillingham last time out.

But Fuchs says his sole focus remains on his own side as Newport bid to remain above the drop zone.

"It's all about us," added Fuchs.

"If we continue playing the way we are playing, if we continue collecting points, it really doesn't matter what the others are doing.

"We are aware what the situation is."

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Christian Fuchs hopes Bobby Kamwa can continue to play a pivotal role in Newport County's quest for survival after he netted a vital winner against Shrewsbury Town.

The 26-year-old struck the only goal of the contest on 68 minutes at Rodney Parade as the Exiles claimed a crucial three points in the League Two encounter.

It was just Kamwa's second goal of the season, although boss Fuchs hopes the attacker can take confidence from his match-winner.

"It's one great moment from Bobby Kamwa where he finally hits the goal," said Fuchs. "I'm really pleased for him.

"It helps every player to have those moments to score a goal, especially the front players.

"Bobby has so much quality on the ball. There should be a penalty given to us, why would he go down?

"He takes on players, he's very unpredictable because he can go on the outside or the inside.

"I'm very happy for him that he found the back of the net today."

Despite victory, Newport stay 22nd in the table, two points clear of Barrow who are 23rd after earning a shock win against leaders Bromley.

But Fuchs says his focus remains solely on his own side after they kept their survival hopes firmly in their own hands by beating the Shrews.

"The boys have dealt with everything that was thrown their way. It was a great team performance and it was a team win," added the Austrian.

"That's what I like about my team, we can add more and more the longer the game goes on.

"We have it in our own hands. That's all we are looking for. It's only important what we are doing."

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Midfielder Michael Spellman is yet to return to training as Newport County face a key run in their League Two relegation struggle.

Spellman has not featured since going off in the 19th minute of the Exiles' shock 2-1 win at Barnet with an ankle injury.

The attacking midfielder, who signed in the summer of 2024, missed County's late defeats by the promotion-chasing pair of Bromley and Walsall.

"It is going to be a bit longer, he cannot train," said Fuchs about the injury to Spellman, who is the club's joint top scorer with Nathan Opoku on five goals.

County were also without defender Lee Jenkins in the West Midlands after he came off in the first half against Bromley.

"It was a precaution with the shoulder, it didn't feel right and we had to leave him at home," said Fuchs about the centre-back, who has made 36 appearances since joining from Haverfordwest.

Newport host Shrewsbury at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 28 March (15:00 GMT) before a key home fixture against fellow strugglers Crawley on Friday, 3 April.

County are a point and a place above the relegation zone, albeit bottom club Barrow would go above them by winning their game in hand.

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Newport County boss Christian Fuchs says his side need to be smarter after missing an opportunity to inch away from the League Two relegation zone at Walsall.

The Exiles led 1-0 at half-time at Bescot Stadium thanks to Harrison Biggins' volleyed opener from James Crole's cross.

However, Daniel Kanu levelled just past the hour and then Alex Pattison won it for the play-off hopefuls with a strike from distance in the sixth minute of added time.

County were helped by defeats for fellow strugglers Barrow, Harrogate, Crawley and Tranmere and remain a point and a place above the drop zone.

"It's a missed opportunity and that definitely hurts," said Fuchs, whose side travelled to the West Midlands after a late 1-0 loss to promotion-chasing Bromley in midweek.

"We have now missed two opportunities to push forward and to go further up the table.

"There are seven games to go and we need to be more clinical and take advantage of chances that we have.

"We need to be smarter at times. When you have the opportunity to get one point away from home in Walsall, then you should take that point.

"I'm happy with the performance, but again we didn't walk away with any points and that's the part that we definitely need to fix."

Bottom club Barrow are two points worse off than County, but have a game in hand, while the Exiles also travel to Cumbria on the last day of the season.

Fuchs' side host 19th-placed Shrewsbury, who have moved to the brink of safety, on Saturday, 29 March.

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Walsall interim boss Darren Byfield says Christian Fuchs has done a "wonderful job" since he took charge of Newport County in November.

Byfield's Saddlers side host the Exiles on Saturday (15:00 GMT) and are looking to climb into the League Two play-off spots, while Newport are determined to remain out of the relegation zone.

Walsall won the reverse fixture 4-2 in early November, shortly before former boss Dave Hughes was sacked by the Welsh club.

But Byfield expects a different test against this time around.

"We'd done well to come away with the three points at Rodney Parade, which is always a tough place to go," he told Walsall's official website.

"They're a good team that don't want to be in the position that they're in. Like ourselves - we want to be higher. That's how we have to look at it.

"They're coming to our ground and we have to make sure we put up that fight to make sure we get those three points."

On Fuchs, Byfield commented: "Christian has come in and done a wonderful job in turning it around for the boys and we know it's going to be a really tough game come Saturday.

"We have to just think about causing them as many problems as we can and that's what we are.

"We know what they'll bring by watching them and we have to try and stop it and let them worry about us. That's how it's going to be, they have to worry about the players that we have."

Newport sit 22nd in the fourth tier, one point above Harrogate Town and two clear of bottom side Barrow.