'The solution lies within the dressing room'

David Hughes says it is up to the players and staff already at Newport County to turn their miserable form around.

Newport continue the search for a first win since the opening week of the League Two season when they go to Cardiff City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

While the Exiles are chasing a goalkeeper to offer cover for Nik Tzanev, who is away with New Zealand for friendlies against Poland and Norway, Hughes says any outfield additions from the free-agent market are unlikely because of profit and sustainability rules.

After 10 defeats in the past 11 games in all competitions, County boss Hughes is expecting League Two's bottom club to get no help.

"We go again. Nobody has any sympathy for us - there is none. The solution lies within the group of people in the dressing room," Hughes said.

"We believe that we can support the players to get that performance and that belief won't waver for us and the staff."

Newport will face a depleted Bluebirds side as they chase a morale-boosting success at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Hughes, whose team lost to Arsenal Under-21s in their first EFL Trophy tie this season, says "the league is absolutely the priority" with potentially key fixtures against fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town to come next in the fourth tier.

But he added: "Whatever game we play in, we want to win. We want to pick the strongest team possible.

"We know it's important for supporters. Cardiff will be favourites obviously. We'll go there and give everything we possibly can to put on a performance our supporters can be proud of."