Dino Maamria is relishing a return home following an unkind two game road trip over the Christmas week...
A win at Colchester was followed up by defeat at Crewe and Maamria has issued a challenge to his players to bounce back with three points.
“It is funny how you get Boxing Day away and then the 29th away but it is a very important game now, a must win game.
“No pressure on the players but I think if we have got a chance of catching up with the pack, we have got to win these games, especially at home.
“We should have got points from games like on Boxing Day. We are higher than them in the table and on a good day we are better than them but we must be on a good day all the time.
“We can’t win games at 70%, we must be 90% plus to win football games and that is my message to the players.”
Maamria has a close-connection with Newport following his time as Assistant Manager at the club but he says that come 3pm tomorrow it will be all-business in order to get the win.
“I like Newport, I like Flynny (Michael Flynn). He is a good friend of mine and I have got a brilliant rapport with their fans, directors and chairman.
"It is a good club, I enjoyed my time there and it will be a good game but my focus is on trying to get three points and a good performance in front of our fans for the New Year.”
One positive from Saturday’s defeat was Michael Timlin’s return to the pitch following a nasty injury sustained at Northampton. The Manager still has concerns in central midfield though as Byrom left the pitch with a groin issue.
“I am a little bit light in the middle of the park and Joel Byrom is struggling with his groin. Timlin declared himself fit and wanted to play so I thought I would protect Arthur (Iontton), an 18 year old playing two full games over a four game period, so hopefully he will be fresh and maybe he will start (against Newport). We will wait and see.”
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