Nelson Jardim has urged his Newport County side to make use of home advantage this week as they bid to bounce back from three consecutive league defeats.
The Exiles host Crewe Alexandra on Saturday afternoon, followed by a visit from Karl Robinson’s Salford City on Tuesday night, both in crucial Sky Bet League Two fixtures at Rodney Parade.
After recent losses to Port Vale, Swindon Town, and league leaders Barrow, Jardim believes these back-to-back home games offer a vital opportunity to reset and get their season back on track.
“We need a win tomorrow, everyone knows that,” began the Portuguese.
“We have back-to-back home games now which is nice and It’s all about showing a reaction and improvement. The last two games didn’t go well for us, we know that, but it’s about how we respond going forward now.
“The fans have shown how good their support can be so far this season. When you play at home, it’s a different feeling and they can really be the 12th man.
“The players do feel the support from the fans every game but particularly at home. They feel their energy and they know much they help the team.
“It’s been a tough couple of games but we are determined to bounce back. After the Swindon game we know we needed to show a reaction. We did that well against West Ham by putting in a good performance and showing that energy and desire to win.
“We could see improvements from the last game on Saturday despite us not winning in Barrow. We were up against a clear and more consistent team, but we could see improvements in our performance.
"Now, it’s a question of going back to the basics once again, sticking to our plan and being ready to go again for the next challenge.
"We know the fans will be there in their numbers tomorrow and hopefully we can give them a win they deserve."
Crewe Alexandra will arrive in South Wales as one of the in-form teams in League Two, riding the momentum of four consecutive victories and aiming for a fifth straight win.
Under the leadership of Lee Bell, who will celebrate his 100th game in charge of the club this weekend, Crewe have made an impressive start to the season, collecting 13 points from their first seven matches.
The Alex have built their success on a foundation of defensive resilience, boasting four clean sheets—the second-highest tally in the league.
And Jardim admits he is well aware of the challenge Crewe will present, as his side prepares to face one of the toughest defensive units in the division.
“We all the know the strengths of Crewe and we know that every game in this league is difficult,” added the Exiles boss.
“We also know that if we are not on our game a lot of things can go wrong, but when we are on it and focused we have beaten good teams as well, so we have to make sure we are ready tomorrow.
“Crewe have some good momentum coming into the game. They are a good team, one of the favourites for the league this season, but we have to approach this game with a positive mentality."
