Newport County boss Christian Fuchs has played down suggestions that Saturday's trip to relegation rivals Bristol Rovers is season defining.
Despite sitting in the League Two relegation zone and suffering a 4-1 thumping to Accrington Stanley in midweek, Newport County boss Christian Fuchs has played down suggestions that Saturday's trip to relegation rivals Bristol Rovers is season defining.
County travel to the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, 31 January (12:30 GMT) to face a Rovers side who sit just one place and one point above them.
The English side, who come into the contest having lost their last three league matches, will be looking to do the double over County having won 3-2 at Rodney Parade in September thanks to a brace from Luke Thomas.
"It's another chance, as well as 18 more that will follow," said Fuchs.
"I understand the importance of the game. It helps us if we get wins, but win or lose, there are still enough games to play. This will not define our season."
The Exiles have won just once in 2026, but Fuchs believes the underlying performances of his players suggest improvement, even if results are yet to pickup significantly.
"There's one thing I cannot criticise them for, they try everything and work as hard as possible," he said.
County have scored just 29 goals in 27 matches, the seventh fewest for a League Two side, but Fuchs insists he is "not worried" as they are creating chances and getting into good positions.
After Accrington inflicted a heavy blow on the Exiles, Fuchs feels it is important his side bounce back on Saturday.
"We tripped. That's it. We move forward. The boys' mindset is at the very right place," the former Austrian international said.
"The way the boys have taken things on board over the last six, almost seven weeks has been incredible. From where we started, there's a completely different team out there that believes in themselves."
County are expected to be backed by a strong travelling support in the short journey to Bristol, and while Fuchs acknowledged the added edge of the occasion, he remains encouraged by his side's spirit, especially in their 2-1 victory over Chesterfield last Saturday.
"We need to focus on us. We need to play our game. It doesn't matter if it's away in Bromley, home against Chesterfield, or away at Bristol," he said.
"We need to be on top of our performance and do the basics right – running, fighting, working for each other, working as a unit."
Fuchs, having experienced a relegation battle with Leicester in 2017, has called for unity and togetherness to ease relegation concerns.
"I'm seeing a team that's playing really well and at times outplaying teams at the top of the table. The confidence is there. The ability is there. The boys have impressed me with their attitude and application.
"As long as we perform and the boys give their best out there, it gives us a higher chance to win."
Category: General Sports
