JUSTIN Edinburgh has called on his side to produce a big reaction to their bitterly disappointing opening season loss to Wycombe Wanderers.

The Chairboys stunned Newport with two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half on Saturday at Rodney Parade as the Exiles made a nightmare start to the new campaign.

It was the total opposite to last season’s splendid 4-1 win over Accrington and Edinburgh admitted he was at a loss to find positives from a disjointed performance.

“We need to reflect on this game and be extremely and bitterly disappointed, especially with our possession of the ball and our quality in the final third,” he said.

“We conceded two very bad goals, one comes from the corner when we’ve moved out of designated positions and the second goal is preventable as well, even though they were fortunate to get the ricochet that provided it, but it was too easy for their player to get in.

“We expected them to be more physical, it was something we anticipated and by going 2-0 down and being in a position where we were always chasing the game, we gave them the opportunity to time waste and kill the game and they were able to do that in the position they were in, easily.

“There wasn’t an awful lot in the game, we huffed and we puffed and Lee Minshull was unlucky with a header in the second half where he’ll feel he should’ve hit the target and got us back in the game.

“But the most disappointing thing is that we lacked belief, that’s not acceptable and something we’ve got to make sure we overcome.”

Edinburgh was critical of his strikers and admitted his side resorted to long ball football in an effort to chase their arrears.

“Goals change games, the timing was disappointing, at 1-0 down you’re still in the game, but they are errors we can erase and we can do better,” he said.

“In attack we hoped we’d score rather than belief or a clinical touch in their final third, we could’ve definitely had more problems.

“We were too direct, much too hasty in trying to get the ball forward, but that’s what happens when you are chasing a game, you want the ball as close to goal as possible.

“Sometimes it’s anxiety rather than a pattern of play, but we had 45 minutes to try and chase the game down and could’ve shown more patience.

“We now look for a big reaction at Morecombe.”

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, formerly a player with Newport’s rivals Cardiff City, believes the Exiles will bounce back sooner rather than later.

County beat Ainsworth’s side home and away last term.

“Newport are a good side and Justin will get them right, they’ve not had a good opening day, but it’s a long old season,” he said.

“I am sure by the time they come to our place, they’ll be a stern test for us.”