Newport County 1-0 Colchester United: Will Evans goal gives Graham Coughlan debut win

Graham Coughlan has previously managed Bristol Rovers and Mansfield

Graham Coughlan's Newport County reign began with victory thanks to Will Evans' early goal.

Coughlan had just one training session with his players after being named Newport boss on Thursday.

But the new era started in ideal fashion when Evans headed in from Adam Lewis' cross.

Colchester's Noah Chilvers forced a sharp save from Joe Day as Newport held on for just a second home league win of the season.

Luke Hannant also went close for the visitors, who drop to 23rd in the table having won just once in nine league matches.

Newport striker Omar Bogle came close when his effort clipped the bar, while Aaron Wildig saw a shot saved.

Evans' early effort proved enough, though, to give Coughlan the ideal start to life at Rodney Parade, with his new side climbing to 18th.

Newport boss Graham Coughlan:

"It was tense, it was nervy - I would say there was a lot of pressure on both teams going into the fixture, given the magnitude of it.

"I thought our lads handled it very, very well - they came out of the traps and showed a signal of intent.

"We had a number of opportunities to score, we just couldn't kill the game off. We had chance after chance, but I have to say from one to 11, the character, the spirit, the fight, the determination the work-rate, the attitude - all of them superlatives.

"I'm really, really proud of them to be honest and I've said that to them."