NEWPORT County will be faced with a “massive challenge” against an in-form Gillingham side, admits County gaffer Graham Coughlan.

The Exiles are set to travel down to Kent on Saturday - and will be facing a Gillingham side that hasn’t lost at home since the end of February.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Coughlan said that it will be a “mammoth task” for his team - but one which they will be welcoming.

“In my recollection of going there as both a player and as a coach it’s always been a really tough place to go and that hasn’t changed," he said.

“The dynamics at the club over the last twelve months with the influx of finances has obviously made it even tougher.

“It’s a mammoth task, but a great challenge.”

The takeover of the Kent side by Florida-based property tycoon Brad Galinson in January saw the Gills perform a remarkable accession up the table away from the drop zone. Aided by the arrival of 13 new faces to Neil Harris squad, including former County striker Tristian Abrahams.

And it’s thanks to this financial backing that the Gills have already been backed as play-off favourities for next season by the Exiles boss.

“You’d fully expect them, with the backing that they’ve been given, to be up there and they will be One of the teams challenging next year,” said Coughlan.

County will be looking to bounce back from last Tuesday’s disappointing defeat at home to Harrogate Town, which saw the home side punished for their defensive lapses. Something that Coughlan, a former defender himself, will be keen to cut out.

“We just need to cut out basic silly errors at the back, they were a major problem for the club early doors, and I got on top of that.

“But all of a sudden over recent games they’ve reared their ugly faces again.

“Sloppiness is a real bug bear of mine and it’s something that we’ll be looking to sort out come the end of the season.”

The county’s trip down South will be the last away trip for the Exiles this season before they conclude the campaign at home to Crewe next Monday. But even near the tail end of the season, the Irishman isn’t allowing his side to relax just yet, with a chance to end the season in the top half of the table still a possibility.

“The end of the season shouldn’t be any different to the beginning or middle of the season. You should be looking to be competing and winning every football match.

“There are two massive games left and still a couple of weeks of work left.”