NEWPORT County AFC manager Warren Feeney has praised his players for coming together in adversity to finally halt their six-game losing run.

The Exiles boss was highly critical of his players after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Stevenage but he was delighted by the response they showed in battling to a 1-1 draw with Oxford United at Rodney Parade on Tuesday.

The desire and the hunger that Feeney called for beforehand were evident as Medy Elito scored a stunning goal to cancel out Jordan Bowery’s opener for the U’s.

And County could have taken all three points against the promotion hopefuls with Mark Byrne only denied a spectacular winner by an equally impressive save at the death.

“It’s a 90 minute game of football and you’ve got to keep going and going,” said Feeney.

“It’s about sticking together and I thought we did that. The two strikers up top did well and so did Ben Davies.

“I was very critical of him on Saturday and he knows that but I thought he was fantastic. Him and Scotty Barrow were outstanding.

“And the two centre-halves were superb – it was a real team performance from back to front.

“I wanted to bring people on but it was going so well that you don’t want to upset it.”

Feeney’s plans were hit by late withdrawals and an injury to Yan Klukowski after he replaced Alex Rodman before the game got started.

“We lost Rodman in the warm-up,” Feeney explained. “Janoi [Donacien] was sick before the game – we got a phone call at 3.30pm – and Yan obviously after we pulled him in from the warm-up.

“But sometimes that brings the boys together. It’s important that when the chips are down you’ve got to stay together and we certainly did that.”

Feeney also had words of comfort for Tommy O’Sullivan, who replaced the injured Klukowski and misplaced several passes.

“I thought Yan started very well but it’s a chance for someone else now,” said the manager.

“Tommy is disappointed but he’s a kid and it’s a new position for him.

“It’s a team effort and everyone gives the ball away but I told him not to get his head down.

“He’s got a long career ahead of him and he’s a very good footballer.

“I look at the things he did when he didn’t have the ball, which is put in a shift, and that’s what he’s got to take from it.”