NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh has demanded a quick response from his players against Oxford United on New Year’s Day after defeat at Burton Albion.

County drop to seventh in League Two, albeit only four points off the top with a game in hand, following the 1-0 defeat to the Brewers on Sunday.

The hosts dominated the match and finally got the goal they deserved in the 79th minute from Billy Kee to move level on points with Scunthorpe United and Chesterfield at the top of the table.

Edinburgh was bitterly disappointed as his side lost in the league for the first time since a 4-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town on November 2.

“Too many of us were below par and when you get that at a place like Burton it is tough to get a result,” said the Exiles boss.

“We need to put things right against Oxford and we need to bounce back quickly.

“I don’t like losing and I want a response. Too many of the players were below the standard they’ve set and if you start taking things for granted then you get what we got.

“We started slowly and we were always chasing the game,” he added.

“We started better second half but we didn’t do enough and I don’t think we helped each other enough, which is disappointing.

“The goal came from an unnecessary free kick and it was a simple goal. They didn’t have to work hard for it.

“When you get to where we were with time running out and as well as Lenny Pidgeley had played I thought we might take a point.

“But credit to Burton they kept going and probably deserved the three points.”

Defender Harry Worley was replaced by Ismail Yakubu in the second half and could be one of the players rested when fifth-placed Oxford come to Rodney Parade on Wednesday.

“Harry’s been playing with a groin strain and Ish was ready to come back,” explained Edinburgh.

“It gave us some fresh legs after playing two games in three days.

“But it was no different for Burton so we can’t use that as an excuse.

“We’ll dissect this defeat and look at the reasons why we weren’t at our best because it disappoints me off the back of a really good performance at Wycombe.”