NEWPORT County AFC were beaten 2-1 at Luton Town last night with the winning goal coming from a hotly-disputed penalty in the 97th minute. Here's what we learned.
1. Luton are ‘bad winners’
There was a lot of arrogance displayed by the League Two leaders and their fans on Tuesday night and it wasn’t pretty to witness.
Hatters manager Nathan Jones and goalscorer Cameron McGeehan both suggested that County got what they deserved for what they perceived to be a ‘negative’ approach to the match and McGeehan labelled the Exiles players ‘cheats’.
HIGHLIGHTS: Take a look back at the action from last night's encounter with Luton Town #SupportThePort https://t.co/DQGf3zz8lA
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) August 17, 2016
2. County's indiscipline costly
The players and management and most of the travelling fans were convinced that Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu dived to win the last-gasp penalty, and with some justification from the video evidence.
Jamie Turley was guilty of a silly tackle for the first spot-kick but Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was already falling before he got to Turley for the second.
The County defenders need to be cleverer in the box, however, and not give the referees a chance to penalise them.
It’s also understandable that there was a big sense of grievance after the winner but picking up six yellow cards – at least three of them for protesting – doesn’t help County’s cause going forward. Mark Randall is now only two yellows from a ban.
3. Feeney will be banned
Warren Feeney is also likely to find himself in hot water with the FA for his reaction to the events at Kenilworth Road.
Feeney and his coaching staff remonstrated with referee Charles Breakspear on the pitch and the Exiles boss will surely land a fine and a touchline ban for his post-match comments to the media.
4. Exiles showed spirit on the road
The main positive to come from the match is that County again looked resolute and ready to match the best that League Two has to offer in their own back yard.
Feeney’s men did enough to deserve a point and they need to use the anger and feeling of injustice to their advantage and ensure that they don’t suffer the same pain again.
5. Parkin looks a real handful
Tuesday saw the long-awaited competitive debut for new striker Jon Parkin, who replaced Marlon Jackson with 21 minutes left on the clock.
And the Beast caused the Luton defence plenty of problems in an impressive cameo, making a nuisance of himself and doing enough to suggest that he will be a big asset this season.
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