NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh slammed skipper Andy Sandell after his red card sparked a late collapse at bottom club Hartlepool, writes James Richardson.

Goals either side of half-time from strikers Chris Zebroski and Aaron O’Connor looked to have set the Exiles on their way to a comfortable victory.

But, after Sandell was dismissed for an altercation with Scott Harrison when already on a yellow card, the visitors caved in and Pools netted twice in the final ten minutes through Brad Walker and Michael Duckworth to snatch a draw.

Edinburgh said: “When he’s [Sandell] already on a yellow card to get involved in a confrontation is disappointing and it really changes the complexion of the game.

“We didn’t expect it from the captain, but these things happen.

“We were left in a position where after one yellow, it’s a second yellow to come. They were wrestling and it’s a second yellow.

“He’s been booked, it’s the only decision the ref has had to make.”

Despite Newport extending their unbeaten run to five matches, Edinburgh admitted the blow of conceding twice made it feel like a defeat for his promotion hopefuls.

However, the former Tottenham defender hopes he can later look back on the result as a point gained rather than two dropped.

Edinburgh added: “Hartlepool had plenty of the ball, but it was going to be a comfortable away win after 70 minutes.

“We controlled things well and pressed in the right areas and got two goods goals on the break. But one mistake to get sent off and one mistake in our penalty box gave Hartlepool a chance.

“It was a nervy last ten minutes, but we should never had had let them have the opportunity they did.

“We have come a long way in a short space of time this season and we will learn from this one. It certainly feels like a loss right now.

“We could have lost it at the end, but for a good save at the end.

“Hopefully we look back on this at the end of the season as a valuable point.”