NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan has hinted at a January clear-out after criticising the mentality of some of his players following Tuesday's EFL Trophy defeat by West Ham United under-21s.

County registered 18 shots against the young Hammers but only managed to hit the target with one, and they were punished for their profligacy as Gideon Kodua’s second-half stunner won it for the visitors.

Coughlan was disappointed that his team couldn’t build on Saturday’s impressive 2-0 win at Gillingham in League Two and frustrated by what he saw as a lack of quality and, more worryingly, poor attitude and application from some members of the squad.

“I thought we were a little bit flat,” said the Exiles boss.

“Your mentality has got to be a winning mentality. You've got to have that mindset and you've got to have that hunger and desire for every game of football you play.

“I didn't see any drive or determination. I may be wrong here, but they [West Ham] looked as if they wanted it more than us.

“That was the most disappointing part. It shouldn’t be like that. But we’ve been here before with a number of these lads.

“Obviously, it’s my job to change them and to bring better in. It’s easier said than done, but one or two players need to be changed at this football club. We don’t have strength in depth.

“We were sloppy in the final third and we showed our lack of quality. That’s something I need to address going forward.

“I don’t think anybody would disagree that we do need to strengthen,” added the Irishman. “We do need players. But there’s no point in bring in players for the sake of it.

“Given the opportunity, I would like to recruit a little bit of quality on the ball and in the final third, because I think that’s where we came up short.”

Coughlan was full of praise for his players after the win at Gillingham, but they failed to live up to those standards at Rodney Parade on Tuesday.

“I’ll obviously make plans [for January], but I’m taking it game by game,” added the manager, who will now turn his attention to Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie at home to Oldham Athletic.

“This group needs constant managing because they’re up and down. They’re a really inconsistent group, individually and collectively.

“That group just never cease to amaze me, to be honest. I just don’t know what they’re going to chuck at us next.

“They were outstanding against Gillingham, but here they were Flash Harrys, Big Time Charlies and thought they just had to turn up.

“Football doesn’t work like that and one or two of them will get caught out. One or two of them, their careers will end short because of that type of mentality.”