I can save Newport, says new boss John Sheridan after defeat at Mansfield Town

Sheridan saw his side gain a 1-1 home draw with Exeter in his first game in charge last week, but they were sunk by three second half goals, two of them superb volleys by Craig Westcarr and Mal Benning, to leave them bottom of the League.

To read Adam Murray’s comments on the game click HERE“It is always hard when you are down at the bottom but I definitely believe we can get out of the situation,” said the former Chesterfield and Plymouth boss.

“Today we showed glimpses, but we have got to have a bit of belief. I said to them at half-time to be brave and get on the ball.

“But we were a bit naive and didn’t get going until they scored. Then we started to play a bit, but we should have been doing that from the off.

“The keeper’s made two ‘worldy’ saves for them, but I am not happy with the performance.

“In the first half I was looking at a completely different team from last week. I have been here a short time and I am trying to give the players an opportunity to show me what they can do, but we need to be more consistent.”

He added: “We are where we are for a reason. Goals, of course, change games but we didn’t really affect the game in the first half. We didn’t have a shot.

“For their first goal people were ball-watching or following the ball. If they had kept their position and shape the goal wouldn’t have been scored.

“Too many crosses were allowed to be put in cheaply.

“The second goal was a wonder strike, I have got to give the lad credit for that, but we had people in the box doing nothing. If they had pushed out 15 or 20 yards he wouldn’t have had the space to have the shot if we had got closer to him.

“To be fair once I put the substitutes on we looked a bit brighter and we did create chances. At 1-0 Rodders (Rodman) had a great chance and then Zak (Ansah) had a shot saved by the keeper’s legs and another strike well saved.

“But I haven’t beaten the lads up afterwards and gone on too much. It has just given me more of an idea of what I need to look at and