GRAHAM Coughlan believes Newport County AFC will need to hit the heights of their wins against promotion-chasing Wrexham and Stockport if they are to get back to winning ways against ‘physical’ Gillingham.

The Exiles’ seven-game unbeaten streak in League Two was ended on Tuesday when they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Notts County.

Tomorrow they host another play-off contender in Gillingham (kick-off 3pm), who were poised to go seventh until Swindon made it 2-2 in added time in midweek.

County, 14th and four points behind the visitors, are looking to repeat last season’s double over the Gills after taking the spoils 2-0 in Kent last October thanks to a pair of Omar Bogle penalties.

“We know what Gillingham are all about,” said Coughlan, whose assistant Joe Dunne played for the Priestfield club.

“They are another club in League Two that should probably be higher up the pyramid. They have certainly flexed their muscles over the last two seasons in the division when it comes to finances and recruitment.

South Wales Argus: CLASSY: Wales midfielder Jonny Williams moved to Gillingham from Swindon last summerCLASSY: Wales midfielder Jonny Williams moved to Gillingham from Swindon last summer (Image: Press Association)

“They are a good team with a lot of nous and experience. It will be a tough one against a play-off hopeful and it's an opportunity for us to put a marker down and show we can compete with these big clubs.”

The Exiles were well beaten on Tuesday by a Notts side who bossed possession and caused problems with their attacking trio of Macauley Langstaff, David McGoldrick and the classy Jodi Jones.

The Magpies are the second top scorers in the division and average two goals per game while the Gills are bottom of the chart with 31 in 31 fixtures.

Nonetheless, they have shown encouraging signs under new head coach Stephen Clemence and head to Newport having scored in all eight league games since losing to Crawley on Boxing Day.

Like the Exiles, they have lost just one of their last eight and have taken 15 points from that spell in the hunt for the play-offs.

South Wales Argus: ORDER: Graham Coughlan and goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman in the County dugout at GillinghamORDER: Graham Coughlan and goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman in the County dugout at Gillingham (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“The game will probably be more of a physical challenge than the other night, which was more of a technical game,” said Coughlan. “Set pieces will be strong for Gillingham and they have a lot of experience.

“It will be one of those challenges where you have to stand up and match them, otherwise you will just get run over. I think it will be a belter and a close, tight League Two encounter.

“We have come through these type of tests in the past – Wrexham and Stockport – and it will take one of those performances. That’s how deep we will have to dig.”

County will assess central defender Ryan Delaney and midfielder Aaron Wildig after knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Delaney suffered a twinge in the early stages against Notts and carried on until the start of the second half while Wildig missed the Magpies game after an early blow in the 3-0 win at Walsall.

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