NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan got the reaction he wanted to a rare rollocking with a 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy.

The Exiles took the spoils at Whaddon Road thanks to a first-half goal by Nathan Wood, his first since joining from Penybont, and a cracker by top scorer Will Evans in the second half.

County were criticised by their boss after last Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Harrogate but he was full of praise for their efforts in Gloucestershire.

“I asked the lads for a performance and we had a little bit of making up to do because our first half performance on Saturday wasn’t up to scratch,” said Coughlan, whose side travel to Swindon in League Two on Saturday.

“It’s not often this season that I have had to say that, 99 per cent of our performances have been solid enough, even if we haven’t always come out with the results.

“I asked the lads to concentrate on getting back to where we were and should be, while I’ve also got to accept that I have got a really young, naïve and raw group. I have to accept that we can be inconsistent and liable to making mistakes.

“That was a really good, solid performance and I was delighted for Woody to score on his first senior start for the club.

“We saw the hunger, desire, aggression, appetite and intensity throughout the game, they were really good.

“It’s not often that I have had to stand here after a game and have a right go for not working hard, so hopefully last Saturday was a blip.”

Midfielder Aaron Wildig was forced off in the first half with a nasty cut and will be ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Swindon if it is concussion.

Teenage Bristol City striker Olly Thomas missed the game through illness but Stoke and Wales Under-21s defender Matt Baker made his first appearance of the season as a late substitute.