FOR the second week running Sean Rigg saw a penalty saved and this time it proved decisive as Blackpool eventually romped to a 4-1 win over Newport County AFC at Bloomfield Road.

Rigg scored from the rebound eight days ago as County went on to win 3-0 at Notts County but he had no second chance against the Seasiders.

Rhys Healey had cancelled out Brad Potts’ opener for the hosts and the Exiles looked set for another big win on the road when Mark Randall was barged over in the box on 54 minutes.

But Sam Slocombe saved and the hosts were ruthless as they banged in three goals without reply in the final 30 minutes.

And manager Graham Westley, who made one enforced change from midweek with Randall replacing suspended skipper Scot Bennett, admitted that the hosts deserved their win.

The loss of Bennett meant a slight reshuffle with Ben Tozer dropping back to central defence to partner Darren Jones.

And the hosts immediately took advantage of some early confusion at the back.

A ball over the top caught out the back four but the situation seemed to be under control as Joe Day raced out to clear the danger.

But the Exiles goalkeeper’s attempted clearance hit Brad Potts and the Blackpool midfielder fired into an empty net in the fourth minute.

It was a bad error and a disastrous start for the visitors but they responded superbly to dominate the next half an hour.

Jazzi Barnum-Bobb almost levelled immediately but his shot fizzed across the face of Slocombe’s goal and wide.

Randall and Rigg showed good composure on the ball and Josh Sheehan and Healey continued their recent sparkling form in attack.

And it was the pair of loan stars – the best two players on the pitch in the first half – who combined to get County back on terms after 21 minutes.

Sheehan hassled and harried and won the ball on the left flank before feeding Healey, who wriggled past his man and into the box before slotting past Slocombe from close range.

It was a fully merited equalizer and County continued to attack, urged on by a sizeable away following.

Sheehan’s confidence got the better of him as he ignored Dan Butler’s overlapping run and his shot hit the corner flag.

Jack Jebb tried his luck from distance but Slocombe saved comfortably but Tom Aldred had to block two efforts from Healey after a neat ball through from Randall.

Gary Bowyer’s men started to assert their authority after Jebb and Randall both picked up silly bookings.

Butler blocked on free-kick but centre-back Clark Robertson should have done better with a free header from the second ball.

Jamille Matt was denied a penalty before Kelvin Mellor looped a header over Day’s bar but the biggest let-off came when a Colin Daniel effort was deflected over Day and rebounded off the inside of the post to safety.

County were thankful for the half-time whistle but they started the second half in positive fashion with Rigg, captain for the day, seeing a volley deflected inches over the bar.

Randall was then felled in the box but Rigg’s penalty, though well struck, was superbly kept out by Slocombe - diving down low to his right.

And the hosts certainly made the most of it as they took charge in the final half hour.

Jack Payne beat Day at the second attempt on 61 minutes - just after new signing Abdoulaye Meite had replaced the injured Barnum-Bobb.

And, as the Exiles pushed forward, Kyle Vassell blasted inside the far post from the left of the penalty area before Mellor headed in from a corner to seal three points for the Seasiders and keep the Exiles rooted to the bottom of League Two.

County: Day; Barnum-Bobb (Meite, 58), Jones, Tozer, Butler; Randall (Compton, 76), Jebb, Sheehan, Rigg; O’Hanlon (Myrie-Williams, 61), Healey

Subs not used: Bittner, Green, Owen-Evans, Wood

Booked: Jebb, Randall, Sheehan, Jones

Referee: Mark Heywood

Attendance: Not announced

Argus star man: Rhys Healey