Rowberry: Newport County must start fast against Carlisle

The Exiles head into the League Two clash on a four-game losing streak and they have a horrendous recent record on home soil.

County’s promotion push was derailed last season when they lost their last five games in Newport and the theme has continued in 2022/23 with a solitary success over Tranmere and losses to Walsall, Salford, Grimsby and Barrow.

The last of those led to a smattering of boos at the final whistle and a section of the fanbase have called for a change at the helm to ensure the club, who have got used to challenging for promotion, isn’t dragged into a relegation battle.

The Amber Army will boisterously back their team at 3pm against in-form Carlisle and Rowberry knows the players must keep them on side.

Newport County manager James Rowberry (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“We need to show our energy, enthusiasm and passion to give the fans something to shout about and be proud of,” he said.

“We show our quality when we make fast starts in games. Our tempo, fast restarts, showing our aggressive nature is important and almost the Newport County way with that passion and front-foot nature.

“We've got to show that and we have in glimpses during games. Now we've got to put it in 98 minutes of football.”

“It's so important to set the tempo and make the opposition realise they are in a game. It lifts the fans and gives them something to shout about.”

Rowberry left a coaching role at Cardiff City to take the reins at his hometown club and is desperate to please the Newport faithful.

“The fans are fundamental to what we do and for the city it's a time when 4,000 people come together to watch a team play,” he said.

“They are there through thick and thin. I am conscious of the situation we are in and I share their frustrations, I really do.

“I want us to do well and it means so much to us all, and we ultimately want to put smiles on faces and make people proud of performances.”

Rowberry took over in mid-October after the departure of Michael Flynn and knows that the heat is on as he approaches a half-century of games in charge.

County boss James Rowberry (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“As a manager you are always under pressure because of the nature of the game,” he said. “You put that pressure on yourself every game, no matter where you are at and win, lose or draw.

“The most important thing for is getting results off the back of what we are trying to do and we want to give our fans something to be proud of, which we believe we will tomorrow.”

On whether his enjoyment for life as a manager remains the same now as at the star of his tenure, Rowberry said: “I do love it. [Pressure] is part of football and it's hard at times but that's the same when winning.

“I still believe I have the best job in the world, I love coming to work every day and I just want to do well for this club and our supporters. I want them to be proud of his team.”