NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh is ready to wield the axe after Saturday’s shocking second half capitulation at Morecambe.

County were 2-0 up and cruising at half-time at the Globe Arena thanks to goals from Adam Chapman and Aaron O’Connor.

But after the break they crumbled in the face of a determined fightback from the hosts with last season’s nemesis Kevin Ellison netting twice and substitute Paul Mullin heading the winner six minutes from time.

A furious Edinburgh laid into his defence, criticising experienced players who he said had failed to follow simple instructions.

And after two defeats in League Two and a Capital One Cup exit at Reading in the first eight days of the new season – conceding eight goals in the process – he hinted that there could be changes for tomorrow’s trip to Mansfield Town.

“After a very good opening 45 minutes it was a typical case of shooting ourselves in the foot,” said the Exiles boss.

“We gave away unnecessary free-kicks, invited unnecessary pressure on to us and made the wrong decisions.

“We gave a free-kick away that shouldn’t have been given away. We spoke about that at half-time but it was experienced players making these errors.

“We’re talking about senior players out there,” he added. “There weren’t many youngsters out there and you’re reliant on them.

“We were in control in the first half and the instructions were clear and simple but unfortunately the players haven’t carried them out.

“We had to see the game out at 2-2 but we gave them a free header in the box at the end and it’s criminal really.

“We’ve got to learn and we’ve got to learn quickly because they didn’t beat us; we beat ourselves and that’s the most disappointing factor.”

Andrew Hughes replaced Kevin Feely in the starting XI at the last minute on Saturday as the Irish youngster succumbed to a toe infection.

“It’s severely infected so we don’t know when he’ll be fit until he’s seen a doctor,” said Edinburgh.

“I thought Andrew Hughes came in and was very good. He was one of the young boys in the team and he followed my instructions.

“I’ll think about changes for the Mansfield game now,” he added.

“I’ve got players who are good enough to be in that side if the players in it aren’t going to take those opportunities

“We have to dust ourselves down and the good thing is that the games come thick and fast now and we’ve got a chance to put that right on Tuesday night.

“There were some positives from the first half; the goals we scored and the chances we created were pleasing.

“We have to focus on that, iron out the errors that keep occurring, regroup and go again on Tuesday.”