NEWPORT County AFC will look to appeal against Mitch Rose’s sending off at Cambridge United on Saturday but the midfielder could face an extended ban after knocking the red card out of the referee’s hand.

County led 2-0 at the Cambs Glass Stadium thanks to two well taken goals from Ryan Bird but the hosts fought back to level and they claimed all three points in stoppage time.

Referee Trevor Kettle pointed to the spot after he deemed Rose guilty of a foul on Luke Berry in the box.

The Exiles man reacted angrily to the decision and pushed Kettle’s raised hand, causing the red card to tumble to the floor.

Joe Day saved George Maris’ penalty but Mark Roberts, who had illegally encroached into the penalty area before the spot-kick was taken, slammed in the rebound to win the game in the 93rd minute.

It ended County’s six-match unbeaten run and leaves them seven points from safety at the bottom of League Two ahead of Tuesday’s game in hand at home to Morecambe.

Manager Graham Westley and his players were angered by the referee’s performance throughout Saturday’s match.

Rose insisted that he got the ball rather than the man in the incident that led to the winner and Westley felt there was a foul on Mickey Demetriou as Cambridge levelled through Leon Legge.

“The lads have put a lot of work in to get the 2-0 advantage, they’re obviously disappointed to have had the decisions go against them,” said the Exiles boss.

“They’re angry about the decisions. I saw a foot boot the referee’s door as I went into the tunnel and I could understand the anger that went into that kick on that door.

“I could really understand it. It’s not good when you put in a lot of hard work and then you feel as though it’s been just robbed away from you.”

Asked if the club would be appealing the red card, he said: “If we can do. I don’t know what the rules and regulations are.

“If somebody’s been sent off for a double jeopardy offence when it’s been cancelled hopefully the authorities will see their way to deal with it without an appeal going in.

“If a sending off happens when it shouldn’t happen hopefully it can be appealed and hopefully it can be overturned.”

Westley had words with Kettle at half-time but he did not seek out the official at full-time.

“What’s the point of speaking to the referee?” he said.

“He’s made the decision, the decision has shocked everybody.

“What am I going to do? Listen to him explain that he saw it differently from me and everybody else in the ground?

“I presume he’s going to say that but I’ve got no interest in hearing what he’s going to say. What is the point of going to have a conversation with him?”