NEWPORT County AFC boss Graham Westley says motivating his players has not been much of a problem after Tuesday’s setback against Wycombe.

The Exiles head north to tackle Blackpool at Bloomfield Road this afternoon (kick-off 3pm), with both sides going into the match on the back of midweek defeats.

County’s 1-0 reverse ended a run of seven games unbeaten and contributed to them returning to the foot of the League Two table.

But when asked how much he has needed to lift the squad for the clash with Gary Bowyer’s 10th-placed Seasiders, he said: “I don’t think it’s a massive job.

“If you get too high in victory or too low in defeat you’re not doing yourselves justice as people.

“When you win, and you win well, enjoy it by all means but don’t get carried away with it, and when you lose be intelligent about it and assess it properly.

“We had 55 per cent possession on Saturday (at Notts County) and we had 53 per cent the other night (against Wycombe). We weren’t too different really.

“On a different surface we played a slightly different game but we weren’t too different in our control of the game and the ball.

“We created 18 chances on Saturday and won 3-0, we created 12 chances on Tuesday and we lost 1-0.

“We weren’t quite as creative but the pitch was difficult and it was more difficult to open them up.

“We still created the chances to win the game but we just weren’t as clinical with our finishing.

“On a different night Rhys Healey puts the one in that he hits the post with and we could have had a decision with a penalty but we didn’t get it.

“The margins the other night were very slight and when I look at the game there was a lot we did right.

“Obviously there are things we can improve on but it was the same last Saturday so don’t get too high in victory – we didn’t – and don’t get too low in defeat – we haven’t – get ready for the next game.”