PETER Nicholas insists tomorrow's FAW Premier Cup showdown at Afan Lido is a pivotal point in Newport County's season.

The Exiles boss (pictured above) is still coming to terms with his side's embarrassing FA Cup exit to lower-league Mangotsfield United on Saturday and snapped: "My players had better give me a positive reaction tomorrow against Afan Lido."

County are still in the bottom three of the Dr Martens League Premier Division and are rooted to the foot of FAW Premier Cup Group B with only one point to show from two outings, following a draw at Connah's Quay Nomads and defeat at Rhyl.

Nicholas is desperate for an immediate, positive response from his players after the 6-3 home reverse to Mangotsfield and is anxious that his men don't get stuck in another losing rut, with their ten-match win-less start to the season in mind.

Also, Nicholas knows failure to record their first Premier Cup win tomorrow will leave County with an uphill task to qualify for the lucrative quarter-finals.

"It is a massive game for my players and I told them that in no uncertain terms in training last night," he said.

"They must roll their sleeves up and fight for everything to bring pride back to this football club. Saturday's defeat was a disgrace but I promise that will not happen again so long as Peter Nicholas is in charge. It was an unfortunate one-off and I demand better.

"My players have got to give everything tomorrow. Anything less than 100 per cent and they'll be in trouble. They need to show the character that is in our dressing room."

The defeat to Western Division Mangotsfield was County's second cup reverse in a week, just four days after a Premier Cup loss at Rhyl, but before that they had achieved a five-game unbeaten run. County's money-men are keen for the club to progress in the competition due to its much-publicised financial rewards.

Newport banked £66,500 for reaching last season's final where they lost 6-1 to Wrexham. A quarter-final spot this year will secure the club £15,000, after the £6,500 received for being invited into the tournament

On-loan midfielder Andrew Mumford misses tomorrow's game, the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

The 22-year-old's sending-off in the 1-1 draw at Connah's Quay earned him a three-match ban in the competition. Mumford apart, Nicholas has a full squad to pick from.

Newport County (from) D Roberts, T Evans, G Lloyd, A Thomas, J Eckhardt, A Stevenson, N Davies, C Rogers, G Phillips, G Shephard, N Davis, M Dickeson, R Plant, G Wesson, S Williams, A Williams, J Phillips, L Stone.