LIVE coverage has given Newport County AFC an FA Cup cash boost but Graham Coughlan wants to deny television bosses the EFL scalp they crave at Barnet tomorrow.
The Exiles head to the Hive for a second-round replay (kick-off 7.45pm) after the National League promotion hopefuls struck in the 89th minute for a deserved 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.
Tuesday's game will be shown live on ITV4 and that is earning both clubs £30,000 while the winners, with extra time and penalties if needed, will take the £67,000 prize money and go on to host National League Eastleigh.
In recent years the Exiles have got used to being picked by TV when they are hunting upsets but now this time the roles are reversed, although there are just 11 places between the sides.
Coughlan said: “It’s great that you get national exposure and it’s always nice to be on television but the only people that will be really smiling will be those that hold the purse strings upstairs!
“The TV company is not turning up to watch Newport and Barnet, they are turning up to see Barnet celebrating.
“They can smell an upset, that’s the realism of it and we have to get our heads around that.
“They didn’t show the first game so they obviously feel something [could happen]. We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t come through for them.”
County hit the front through Shane McLoughlin on the stroke of half-time in the first meeting but missed several chances on the counter to finish off the tie.
That allowed Barnet to pile on the pressure and get the equaliser that their efforts deserved through Danny Collinge from a corner.
County were sluggish in their third game in eight days after digging deep to end League Two leaders Stockport’s 12-game winning streak with a shock 2-1 triumph then repeating that scoreline to become the first team to leave Morecambe with three points.
This time it is the middle fixture of three in eight, slotting in between the 2-1 defeat at Tranmere and Saturday’s home clash with Grimsby.
“We knew that Barnet would be good with the ball, they have some good and dangerous players,” said Coughlan about the Bees, who beat Maidstone 4-0 in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
“It was a really tough encounter and we showed signs of fatigue; it was a good time to get us and Dean [Brennan, manager] mentioned that in his post-match press conference and I think we will be fresher.
“It will be another good, close encounter and there is very little between the teams. It won’t be dissimilar to the game at Rodney Parade.
“Barnet have a lovely blend, they are good with the ball and put you under pressure by launching it into the box from set pieces.
“Them having the football is the way that they play, so we won’t get screwed up about that. If we can create the same chances then we will be more than happy.”
Top scorer Will Evans was taken off at half-time in Tranmere after suffering an ankle injury while centre-back James Clarke was also forced off in the closing stages.
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