Newport County interim boss Wayne Hatswell has urged his side to keep up the momentum from last week’s 3-0 dismantling of Scunthorpe.
The Exiles have had a unique start to the 2021-22 campaign with over half of our matches being played away from home, including the opening four league games of the season in succession all being on the road.
Saturday’s triumph over Scunthorpe and a 2-1 win against Walsall has seen County win back-to-back games at Rodney Parade and the stand-in gaffer wants three from three when we take on Bradford this weekend.
“We’ve played really well in the last two home games,” Hatswell said.
“In between that was the Barrow loss but in that we played really well for half an hour there and we went in front.
“We could’ve picked up more points on the road but it’s unprecedented what we’ve done in this first six weeks of the league, and no-one else in the whole of the Football League has had to put up with that.
“We do feel now it’s starting to level off, we’re having the same fixture schedule as everyone else, so that is now hopefully going to gather some momentum.
“We need a positive result tomorrow [Saturday] just to get in that [play-off] pack. Normally at this stage of the season we’re right up there.
“Tomorrow is going to be a big benchmark just to see how far we’re going to go but we have to judge it on its merits and have a positive outcome. I want us to play well and be brave on the ball.”
Visitors Bradford currently occupy 8th in the League Two table but have only won one of their five league away games up to this point, which currently sees them on an unwanted streak of three straight defeats away from Valley Parade.
Hatswell knows the threat that the Bantams can pose but wants his team to play the game on their terms.
“We know they’re physical and quite direct in what they do. We’ve got to be able to cope with that as well as impose our game on them.”