NEWPORT County AFC manager Warren Feeney blamed a moment of madness from defender Dan Butler for the 1-0 defeat at Grimsby Town that sent his side to the bottom of League Two.

The left-back pulled the shirt of substitute Tom Balarinwa in the box with just two minutes remaining at Blundell Park and Omar Bogle scored from the spot to condemn County to a fifth defeat of the season.

It was harsh on the Exiles after a battling display but it extends Feeney’s run to just one win in his last 22 matches at the helm and heaps more pressure on him ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Stevenage.

Feeney did not hold back in his criticism of Butler.

“I’m getting sick of it,” he said. “It’s not even a basic mistake – it’s embarrassing, to be honest.

“I can’t accept that and I said that to him. I can’t accept what he’s done.

“The players worked so hard. I thought it was a fantastic performance.

“They played for each other, they played for the club and to get done by that it is hard to take.

“You can’t coach that. I’m lost for words on it.

“I can’t get my head round what he’s trying to do. It was a rush of blood to the head.

“I thought he played decent for 88 minutes and he goes and does that. It’s unacceptable.”