Christian Fuchs: Newport County a ‘strong force’ for critical Oldham Athletic game

Fuchs says his side will not be side-tracked by events elsewhere on Saturday.

“Its nothing we can affect,” said the Austrian.

“The bottom line is that even with the Tranmere game [in midweek] we still have everything in our own hands, and we have a really good opportunity this Saturday.

“We don’t think about the other results to be honest, because you cannot affect those it’s about what we can do and what we need to do. The only thing we can affect is our performance.”

Like Cheltenham, Oldham arrive in south Wales with little tangible to play for – 11th in the table but an unassailable nine points off the play-off places – but Fuchs does not see that as an advantage.

“They can probably play with a lot more freedom now because they’re not playing for anything anymore, but everybody always plays for three points. And that’s something that has to do with pride,” he said.

“I’m expecting an Oldham team that will be up for it, but we will be up for it as well.”

Rodney Parade has not proved a fortress this year with County winning just five games on home turf, the joint third-worst record in the league, making the backing of the Amber Army ever more vital for Saturday.

“We need their support as always, and together we can make something good happen,” Fuchs said.

Newport will be without striker Nathaniel Opoku, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, while fellow forward Courtney Baker-Richardson remains a doubt.

With two natural number nines a doubt, one of Bobby Kamwa or Michael Spellman could be deployed in a makeshift striking role as Fuchs hinted that they both have “a very important role” to play this weekend.

A tumultuous campaign could reach the conclusion everyone associated with County craves, and Fuchs says belief remains strong amongst the squad.

“We still have it in our own hands,” he said. “That’s a strong force to have but now it’s about giving the answer on the pitch.”

Can County survive, or will Fuchs be reminded of the scale of the task he inherited, just as he was in his very first match against the Latics?