Christian Fuchs Starts Managerial Career With a Loss

Christian Fuchs Loses 3-0 in Managerial Debut

Christian Fuchs' first ever match in the dugout ended with his Newport County side suffering a resounding defeat to Oldham Athletic.

The former Premier League winner with Leicester City was appointed as manager of the Welsh club on Thursday.

He was tasked with avoiding relegation for The Exiles this season, with them currently sat in bottom place and six points from safety.

However, it was not to be the start the Austrian had in mind, as his side looked very much like the one David Hughes had coached so far this season.

Little energy, no fight and most importantly bereft of any quality, 15th-placed Oldham Athletic could have put five past Newport today, but will certainly settle for three.

Toxic away end at full time. Absolutely no shock.

Today was the moment I realise that relegation is inevitable with this current squad. It’s hopeless. None of them care. A poor Oldham side could have put five past us today without getting out of second gear. We’re done. pic.twitter.com/pPi7uf85JO

— Newport County Thoughts (@NCAFCThoughts) November 22, 2025

The game was goalless at half-time, with Newport looking capable of holding their own for some periods, but for the majority they were making unforced errors that meant they were lucky not to have conceded.

As such, it came as a shock to no one when Josh Hawkes tapped in to a virtually empty net just eight minutes after the restart, via the goalkeeper parrying a header straight into danger.

Goal Latics
1-0
Hawkes!
Get. In.#oafc pic.twitter.com/1jVqeQPKgy

— Detroit Latics (P)reviously Hong Kong Latics (@detroitlatics) November 22, 2025

The second goal that killed off the match came 15 minutes from time, and it looked like men vs boys as Mike Fondop shrugged off defenders, before the Oldham players knocked the ball around the face of goal unchallenged for Joe Quigley to convert.

Hawkes got a brace with a minute left, as he dribbled into the penalty box with Michael Spellman backing off, allowing him to shoot and find the bottom corner in what was the cherry on top of the Latics cake.

Newport have a home clash with 17th-placed Barrow up next, before taking on high-flying Boreham Wood of the National League in the second round of the FA Cup.

Fuchs will hope that a positive result against a team near the bottom of the table and a win to put their hat in contention to face a Premier League team in the next round of the cup will give his side the confidence they need to salvage their season under his management.