NEWPORT County AFC have no option but to keep going on the attack at AFC Wimbledon this afternoon, says boss Graham Coughlan.
The Exiles head to Plough Lane with the aim of making it back-to-back wins in League Two after their remarkable 5-3 win against fellow play-off contenders Morecambe.
County went 2-0 and then 3-1 up, were pegged back with quarter of an hour to go and then responded to take the spoils.
Former centre-back Coughlan steered the club away from trouble last season by getting back to basics and shoring up the defence.
Injuries have hit the bid to be mean in the current campaign with centre-backs Ryan Delaney, James Clarke and Josh Seberry currently out while Kyle Jameson, Declan Drysdale and Matt Baker have all had spells on the sidelines.
That has led to the Exiles conceding 70 in 48 fixtures in all competitions (an average of 1.46 per game) while they have scored 75 (1.56).
They are ranked ninth for goals per game in League Two with Will Evans third in the race for the golden boot on 20, three behind Salford’s Matt Smith and Notts County’s Macauley Langstaff.
“We have evolved and what we are watching is really exciting,” said Coughlan. “We have scored 75 goals this season, that was the first time that we have scored five and in four games we have scored four.
“We are a team that plays on the front foot and our motto is that if we can’t keep it out one end, we’ll put it in the other.
“I suppose that comes with not having a settled back line, we have to be offensive. We can’t sit back and can’t hold on, we have to go on the front foot.”
Coughlan pointed to their fifth goal against Morecambe as evidence of their attacking intent – and fitness levels.
Deep in added time, County were 4-3 up thanks to Harry Charsley restoring their lead after earlier goals by Aaron Wildig (2) and Adam Lewis.
Morecambe pumped a ball into the box, Lewis Payne hacked clear, there was a defensive slip and Adam Lewis nodded forward for Seb Palmer-Houlden to break away.
With James Waite and Offrande Zanzala in support, the striker avoided the wrath of his boss for not passing by scoring in a one-on-one.
“We went again and kicked on, we found a second wind,” said Coughlan. “The goal at the end was in the 97th minute and we had three players running from one box to the other.
“That was remarkable. We showed it to the lads and there should be no questions about the fitness, commitment and levels at this club.”
County’s attack will be up against a Dons defence that has shipped just 39 goals in 38 league fixtures, keeping a division-leading 15 clean sheets.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here