NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan is confident that his side will be ready for a Morecambe reaction in League Two this evening.

The Exiles aim to back up their shock win over leaders Stockport when they head to the Mazuma Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

The north west of England hasn’t been a happy hunting ground so far this season with an opening day 3-0 defeat at Accrington and a 2-1 loss at Salford, while slightly further south they lost 4-2 at Crewe.

County make the long midweek trip buoyed by their win over the Hatters but the Shrimps will be fired up after a 6-0 hammering at Wrexham.

“You will get a reaction but a lot of teams could lose 6-0 to Wrexham, so I won’t read too much into that,” said Coughlan.

“It’s a division where anybody can beat anybody but we have also see quite a few freak scorelines over the course of the season. We know there will be a reaction and we will be ready.”

South Wales Argus: County boss Graham Coughlan watches on in the win against StockportCounty boss Graham Coughlan watches on in the win against Stockport (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

County’s injury problems are slowly starting to ease but Coughlan is still without a number of senior figures.

“My issues haven’t gone away. Being able to fill a bench, rest and rotate are issues for me,” said the manager, who last named a seven-man bench in the league at Notts County on October 24.

“We are fighting our way through this period and that is testament to the players.”

County will have to assess centre-back James Clarke and striker Seb Palmer-Houlden after their made their first starts since September and August respectively against Stockport.

Former Morecambe skipper Aaron Wilding has been struggling with a back problem that has affected his hamstrings while his fellow midfielder Harry Charsley is nearing a return from an ankle injury.

Elsewhere, bottom club Sutton have drawn their last three and could do with three points at home to fourth-placed Crewe if they are to avoid being cut adrift.

One-from-bottom Forest Green host Bradford while Tranmere head to Mansfield.

League Two: Accrington v Swindon, Barrow v Walsall, Doncaster v Colchester, Forest Green v Bradford, Gillingham v AFC Wimbledon, Harrogate v Wrexham, Mansfield v Tranmere, MK Dons v Grimsby, Morecambe v Newport County, Notts County v Crawley, Stockport v Salford, Sutton v Crewe.