Newport County need two big home performances in their final League Two matches of 2016.
The Exiles are at home against Portsmouth on Boxing Day and Exeter City on New Year’s Eve (both 3pm).
Manager Graham Westley’s team must put the disappointment of their FA Cup exit, 1-0 against Plymouth in midweek, out of their minds and focus on these two critical matches in their battle against relegation.
County are four points adrift at the bottom, with a game in hand, and cannot allow that gap to widen.
Victory against fourth-placed Portsmouth and Exeter,who are 15th, would almost certainly lift them out of the bottom three and Westley says his players must focus again and forget their missed opportunity of a third round cup tie against Liverpool.
Plymouth will be going to Anfield in the New Year, while Newport concentrate on their huge battle for survival.
“The players set a standard for themselves (v Plymouth),” said Westley. “They have raised the bar, shown what they’re capable of have the qualities needed if they prepare right.
“We played with organisation and discipline and a real focus.
“All I ask now is that we take that level of concentration and focus and discipline and organisation and game-planning into what we do in the league.
“Because if we play like that in the league on a consistent basis we’ll be winning a lot of points.”
Teenager Finlay Wood may have earned a full League debut after impressing against Argyle.
“He’s a terrific young man and I’ve been impressed with him since I’ve been at the club,” says Westley.
“Finlay has footballing quality and a great work ethic. He’s a courageous lad and I expected him to do as well as he did.”
Sean Rigg is available again after complying his suspension, while Tom Owen-Evans is also available having been cup-tied in midweek.
Joss Labadie is doubtful after jarring his knee.
Cardiff City striker Rhys Healey is available for both of Newport’s home matches over the next week before returning to his parent club at the end of his loan spell, which officially ends on January 2.
Healey will train with the Bluebirds early in the New Year, but is likely to go out on loan again, possibly to Plymouth or Carlisle.
Portsmouth’s top scorer Gary Roberts could be left out after scoring only once in 13 fixtures.
Noel Hunt could step in with Curtis Mann still injured.
Newport County (probable): J Day, J Barnum-Bobb, D Jones, J Myrie-Williams, B Tozer, S Bennett, F Wood, J Sheehan, S Rigg, M Jackson R Healey. Subs, from: D Butler, M Randall, P Bignott, J Bittner (gk), A Meite, J Green, J O’Hanlon, T Owen-Evans.
