Newport County caretaker boss Wayne Hatswell insists it will not be easy against Carlisle United despite the Blues' poor form.

Tonight's game in south Wales sees a contest between two sides yet to appoint a new manager.

The Exiles are further down the road on that front after the recent departure of Michael Flynn, with an appointment expected soon.

It could be Hatswell's final game in interim charge, whilst Gavin Skelton will lead the Cumbrians for a second game after Chris Beech's sacking.

Hatswell, Flynn's former No2, said: "No game is easy in this league.

"They [Carlisle] are a club that's coming to us in the same sort of scenario.

"They've got a long trip ahead so we need to make sure we start the game really well and put them on the back foot straight away."

Newport sit 14th in the table after 2-2 draw at Exeter on Saturday.

Their mid-table form followed last season's run to the play-off final, where they lost out on promotion to Morecambe.

Hatswell has earned five points from a possible nine, and is yet to be beaten since stepping up following Flynn's departure.

"I've said to the group that they're starting the game with a bit more of an understanding about each other and some of the football we played [on Saturday] was really good at times," Hatswell added on his club's website.

"We've got a good group who want to work, maybe we just need a bit of Lady Luck to go on an unbeaten run so we can stay around that top 10 and then you never know.

"It's a long season and there's a long way to go."

United are tonight hoping to end a fruitless record at Rodney Parade.

They have not won in seven visits to Newport's ground, a run since 2015 that has brought five defeats and two draws.

Carlisle's last away win against County came in 1988 when two Malcolm Poskett goals earned a 2-1 win at their previous Somerton Park home.