NEWPORT County defender Darcy Blake admits he was angry over the award of a contentious penalty in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Burton Albion.

The Exiles, whose safety in League Two was guaranteed just before kick-off, courtesy of Bristol Rovers’ defeat in an earlier game, ended the visitors’ hopes of automatic promotion after the entertaining draw, which County arguably dominated.

They hit the woodwork three times and missed several good chances, but it was the award of the first half spot-kick that was unsurprisingly occupying the thoughts of Wales international Blake.

“I feel I am an honest player and when I was sent off against Portsmouth the other week I held my hands up regarding two cautions,” he said.

“But there was no contact there with the Burton lad and it is disappointing that the ref felt it was a foul.”

Blake was by no means the only person who felt that referee Brendan Malone struggled to keep up with play, something mentioned specifically in our match day @Argusoncounty twitter feed.

“If he was up with play maybe there might have been a different decision and the linesman showed no reaction, nor did the Burton players, until the penalty was awarded,” Blake explained.

Blake felt the Exiles were worthy of three points against the promotion contenders.

‘The lads told me how organised Burton were when we played them up there and they had good shape about them but I think we unsettled them with three upfront,” he said.

“We made a great start, I’ve been informed that Sandell has at least one a season like he scored and in all fairness I wouldn’t want to get in the way of his shots from seeing his efforts in training!

“It was fully deserved for our performance in the opening half and if we had gone in 1-0 up at half time I don’t think anybody could have complained.

“And it is credit to the lads that we came out and played the type of football we did in the second half and forced Burton on the back foot reducing them to counter attacks and it was encouraging to see how many attacking options we have.”

Blake has a minimum of two games left playing for the Exiles after his free transfer, short-term move from Premier League Crystal Palace and despite them being tough tests against play-off placed York and automatic promotion contenders Rochdale, the Caerphilly defender is confident.

“We have shown against the teams battling it out at the top end of the table that we are match for them and we can take that into Saturday at York,” he said.

“But I am glad there is no game until Saturday as it has been pretty hectic since I have arrived and at least there is recovery time between now and Saturday!”