Mansfield Town boss knows his side will need to be up for the fight at Newport County

Stags travel to South Wales in search of their first three points of the League Two season.

They face an Exiles side full of confidence after having taken Newcastle United to penalties in the League Cup.

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And Coughlan knows his side will need to display all their fighting qualities and get some luck if they are to leave Rodney Parade with the win.

“We need to stick together as a group, we want and need a bit of luck or a break of the ball - it has been tough,” he said.

“We will deal with it and carry. We would like to be Newport’s shoes.

"We are in the infancy. Newport are a strong team who will be a tough test and a battle. We will need our tin hats on and to roll our sleeves up to fight.

“We know what they are all about; they are always really tough and battle hardened. It is going to be a big ask, but we have to start somewhere.”

And Coughlan is also retaining the faith in his players to get the ball rolling.

“They just need to keep working hard,” he said. “I believe we are building and working towards something.

“I believe in the group and what we are trying to do.

“The players knew they should have got something out of Saturday and were really hurting.

“That has come out in training this week. We didn't play well last week, it was one of the worst ones over the last 4-5 games, but we still created chances which is a positive.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we just need a break of the ball and a bit of luck.

“Getting the first win is not something we are constantly talking about.

“We have discussed what we are doing. It will fall for us and we will get some look and win a game, it is how we react after that which counts.

“When I won this league as a player we didn't win in the first five so I'm not going depressed about it and we will respond.

“This time lasts year I had one point as manager

“I'm very confident as are the rest of the boys. We know where we need to improve, the club was 21st last season and it's difficult to pick ourselves up from there but we will get there.”

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