NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh intends to appeal against the red card shown to star striker Aaron O’Connor at the end of today’s 2-0 victory over Stevenage.

County extended their unbeaten run in League Two to nine games with a hard-fought victory at Rodney Parade.

A third win on the bounce thanks to first half goals from O’Connor and Darren Jones lifted them to sixth in the table, just three points off Shrewsbury Town in the third automatic promotion spot.

But a straight red for O’Connor for hacking down Dean Wells at the death put a dampener on the day and Edinburgh has vowed to appeal the decision and avoid a three-game ban for his star man.

“Obviously the gloss was taken off the result by the red card at the end but having viewed it now we are certainly going to appeal that one,” said Edinburgh.

“I certainly don’t feel that it was a red card and it’s just left us a bit disappointed at the end.

“There was nothing in the challenge. It wasn’t a big swing, he clipped him and I’m not sure the referee’s angle was great.

"It was a competitive game but it was fair and that’s what disappointed me more than anything with the sending off.

"Up until then I felt the referee had allowed a lot of good challenges and a lot of physical contact but there was never a red card needed.

“I have confidence that it will be rescinded.”

Apart from the red card and an injury to Andrew Hughes it was a great day for Edinburgh’s men.

“It was a thoroughly good victory,” he said. “It was a dogged game; there wasn’t a lot of football played but we did our jobs well.

“It wasn’t pretty at times but we were ruthless when our chances came along and coped with everything they threw at us second half.

“We needed to score the first goal because we found it hard to get the tempo going today,” added Edinburgh.

“It was a very deft header from Aaron and that helped us settle into the game, open them up a bit and get the second one.

“It was a fantastic time to score the second, right on the stroke of half-time and a calm finish from Jonesy in the box.

“That meant we didn’t have to chase the game and we were comfortable in the second half.”