Head coach Nelson Jardim wants his side to continue their positive run of home form when they host Notts County on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
The Exiles welcome the promotion-chasing Magpies to Rodney Parade, hoping to bounce back from their disappointing 1-0 defeat at Grimsby Town last weekend.
Newport have lost just one of their last seven home matches, and while their away form has been inconsistent, their home record has been among the best in the league, with only four teams—each competing for promotion—boasting a better home record.
However, they face a tough challenge against a Notts County side currently sat in 6th place with 62 points from 38 games, firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion to League One.
But, If the Exiles can perform to the levels they have recently shown on home soil, Jardim believes his side will give themselves a good chance of securing a positive outcome.
“Our home form has been really strong this season. You’d always rather play at home because it’s a different feeling with the fans,” he said. “But we know we have to deal with the travel better and find ways to improve our performances away.
“We’re not the only ones having difficulty on the road at the moment. If you look at the league, teams like Bradford, who are flying at the top, have only won five away games. Barrow have won three, Port Vale four. It shows how tough it is.
“We’re not satisfied with our away performances, but when you look at it in context, you realise how narrow the margins are. We’re always striving to improve and find more success away from home.
“Home form has given us real confidence this season. From the start, I’ve said home games are massive for us. Based on our home form, we’d be in the play-offs. Not only that, but we’re one of the highest-scoring teams at home. Our fans celebrate more home goals than most clubs.
“We’re currently fourth in home goals scored, with 30. The teams around us have just a couple more, which is a huge positive. It shows we’re capable of beating anyone at home, as we’ve proven this season.
“Of course, we could’ve had another win or two—Fleetwood and Grimsby come to mind, where we missed two penalties but we have to keep on building.
“Ultimately, the focus should always be positive, backed by data and evidence. Looking at our performances in context, we should be proud of what we’ve achieved so far. We can only look forward in a positive way.”
He added: "We expect a tough game [against Notts County]. “They’re a strong side with quality all over the pitch. They’re well-drilled, they know what they’re doing, and if you give them space and time, they can hurt you.
“It’s up to us to make it difficult for them, to impose ourselves at home. We always prepare to win, but we know it’ll be a challenge.
“Hopefully, it’ll be similar to the MK Dons game—a match full of goals, two quality teams playing positive football. That’s what we want—an enjoyable game for everyone.”
