'Not many get away' with this many losses - Hughes

Dave Hughes took over as Newport County boss in the summer

David Hughes has admitted few managers would get away with losing as many games as he has this season as Newport County prepare for Saturday's crunch fixture at Shrewsbury Town.

The Exiles, who are three points adrift at the foot of League Two, go to 23rd-placed Shrewsbury having been eliminated from the EFL Trophy after a 1-0 defeat by Exeter City on Tuesday.

That was Newport's 13th defeat in all competitions under Hughes, with 10 of the losses coming at Rodney Parade.

When asked whether he needs to beat the Shrews to keep his job, Newport boss Hughes said: "I don't know, I really don't. I don't say that in a flippant way.

"I'll have a conversation with staff as usual. Are we missing something? Is there something we're not doing? Are the players not performing, not trying? I don't see any of that, and I haven't done at any point.

"Essentially, the chairman will have a decision to make on what's best for the football club, which is what he's done since he's taken over. So I can't really answer that.

"Will I lose sleep over losing my job? No. Do I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about how we win a game? Of course."

Trouble at home leaves County in big danger

Newport's only home success since March came courtesy of a penalty shootout against Gillingham in the FA Cup

County's poor home form - coupled with awful weather conditions - led to a crowd of just 838 turning up for the Exeter tie, adding to a sense of despondency at the club as their Rodney Parade struggles continued.

Though County have won their past three away games - a memorable 1-0 success at Cardiff City in the EFL Trophy followed by league victories at Accrington and Harrogate - they have mostly struggled in front of their own supporters.

"Not many managers get away with losing as many games as I have done," said Hughes, who left his role as a Manchester United youth coach to sign a two-year contract at Newport in May.

"[But] I'm really clear with it. Are the players giving absolutely everything for the club? I believe they are. Did we create opportunities and goalscoring moments [against Exeter]? Yes, we did, but not as many as them (Exeter). That's the truth.

"We are doing everything we can to look to win games of football. I'm not [winning]. We're not. There's nothing more I can say on it."

Hughes accepted "questions have got to be asked" with his team failing to string wins together, and fans and pundits pointing the finger at him and chairman Huw Jenkins for the club's worrying league position.

"We're in November and the points total on the board is not good enough. We've performed well at times, but performances need to be returned with points," he said.

"What the supporters know is the players are giving everything for the badge. They can see it. Nothing will change in that regard.

"We are as determined as we've ever been to support the players to get the results they require. Ultimately the buck stops with me and if he (Jenkins) needs to make a decision, he'll make a decision. I can't influence that."