Newport County boss David Hughes insists he won’t lose sleep over the threat of being sacked after his side were booed off following a 2-0 home defeat to Cheltenham Town.
The result left County bottom of League Two, piling further pressure on Hughes as frustration grows among supporters at Rodney Parade.
⚽️ FT | A disappointing afternoon at Rodney Parade#OneClubOneCounty pic.twitter.com/FjcxY7Hu6h
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) October 18, 2025
What Happened and Why It Matters
Newport’s defeat came as a harsh setback after back-to-back wins in the EFL Trophy and League Two, with Cheltenham continuing their own revival under Steve Cotterill. Two well-taken volleys from midfielder Luke Young punished defensive lapses to condemn Hughes’ side to their 10th league loss of the season.
The Exiles have not won a home league match since March 15, a statistic that fuelled loud boos at full-time from fans who have endured another tough campaign. Despite that, Hughes — who previously worked in Manchester United’s academy — refused to panic over his job security.
“I don’t wake up every morning worrying whether I’m going to be here tomorrow,” he said. “The reality is we need to win games, and we’re not. Whatever decisions people make, they’ll make them. We’ll keep fighting and scrapping to get results.”
The manager admitted his side struggled to threaten Cheltenham goalkeeper Joe Day, lamenting a lack of penetration and conviction in attacking areas.
📺 Manager Reaction | Exiles boss Dave Hughes spoke to the press after Saturday’s disappointing afternoon against @CTFCofficial in @SkyBetLeagueTwo ⬇️🟠⚫️#OneClubOneCounty
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) October 18, 2025
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
Hughes’ squad has been badly hit by injuries, with Tom Davies, Matt Baker, Liam Shephard, Matt Smith, Keenan Patten, Nathan Opoku and Jaden Warner all sidelined. The growing list has left Newport short of experience and balance, prompting the manager to suggest he’d like to strengthen before the January transfer window.
“I would like to, for sure,” he said. “I think we know that would be beneficial.”
Hughes accepted that fans’ frustrations were justified but defended his players’ effort levels, describing them as a “young group giving everything for the club.”
Newport now face a crucial spell as they try to climb off the foot of the table, with patience among supporters wearing thin and the pressure on Hughes continuing to intensify.
Three points from safety might not seem too much to overhaul, but the Exiles only have eight points, and are simply not a threat at the moment. Former Shrewsbury Town defender Hughes might ride out this moment, but things don’t get easier.
They host Walsall in the league next, then travel to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury. If he lasts until the trip to Salop, his return to the club he came through with could be a defining moment.
