NEWPORT County AFC’s push for promotion continues to falter after a 3-2 loss to Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

The Exiles’ winless streak in League Two stretched to seven after an eventful encounter that was shaped by captain Joss Labadie’s red card after 14 minutes.

The midfielder was dismissed for raising his left arm into the face of Marcel Hilssner when the score was 1-1, Jake Scrimshaw’s first goal for County after two minutes having been cancelled out by Davis Keillor-Dunn.

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Bobby Grant tapped home for the Latics only for Luke Gambin to score a superb goal on debut just before half-time.

County frustrated Oldham but the killer blow came after 74 minutes when Nicky Adam’s cross from the right was deflected into his own net by Mickey Demetriou.

Michael Flynn’s side drop to third in the table ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with fourth-placed Carlisle at Rodney Parade.

Here are the talking points from Boundary Park…

South Wales Argus: OFF: Joss Labadie is dismissedOFF: Joss Labadie is dismissed

CAPTAIN’S APOLOGY

The afternoon had started so well for Labadie, whose lovely footwork had put Gambin in motion to provide the cross for the opener from the right.

However, the captain left his teammates in a pickle with his act of petulance on 14 minutes and they couldn’t quite battle for a point.

It was hardly viscous by the midfielder but his reaction to the sniping of Hilssner – who Flynn felt, with justification, should have been off the field for a shocking tackle on David Longe-King at 1-0 – deserved red.

“Want to apologise to my teammates and fans today for letting you all down,” Labadie Tweeted on Saturday evening, presumably from the team bus.

“Although I didn’t make any contact with the opposition player, I tried to brush him off after being fouled, I take full responsibility and should know better for putting myself and team in that position.”

Labadie has enough credit in the bank and remains a key figure for County who will be vital if they are to challenge for the top three.

However, he has opened the door for midfield rivals and he will have to force his way into the starting line-up on his return from suspension.

South Wales Argus: UNDER PRESSURE: Tom King could lose his spot to Nick TownsendUNDER PRESSURE: Tom King could lose his spot to Nick Townsend

KING UNDER THREAT

Only five of County’s squad have scored more League Two goals this season than ‘keeper Tom King (penalty taker Matty Dolan, playmaker Josh Sheehan and forwards Ryan Taylor, Padraig Amond and Tristan Abrahams).

It was a busy week for the Wales squad man after his freak goal at Cheltenham on Tuesday evening, an effort that was recognised as a world record on Thursday.

When carrying out his post-match media duties at Whaddon Road, King said he was disappointed not to have kept out Matty Blair’s leveller and the stopper will certainly have been kicking himself on the way back from Boundary Park.

The key moment of the game came on 14 minutes when Labadie was dismissed yet there had already been a huge moment swing on eight when Scrimshaw’s opener was cancelled out.

King failed to claim a deflected cross and instead slapped the ball to Keillor-Dunn, who jinked to the line and then fired a shot underneath the goalkeeper from an extremely tight angle.

Perhaps harsh, but could he have also done better with the second to push Conor McAleny’s shot further away from goal rather than into Grant’s path?

King had a nervy game that ended with him conceding a (missed) penalty for catching McAleny when rushing out to try and stop a counter at 3-2.

Nick Townsend will be pushing hard for a recall – Michael Flynn has a tough call to make for Tuesday.

South Wales Argus: LIVELY: Luke Gambin scored one and set up another on his Newport debut in OldhamLIVELY: Luke Gambin scored one and set up another on his Newport debut in Oldham

LIVELY LUKE

It was another frustrating afternoon but the performance of Luke Gambin gave reason for optimism.

The loanee scored a stunning solo goal, a jinking run and firm finish from outside the box, after his pinpoint cross had been headed home by the hard-working Scrimshaw for the opener.

He provided County with something that they have been lacking in recent weeks after the departure of attacking midfielder Scott Twine.

Gambin drives at defenders, he looks cunning at finding weak spots in the final third, he holds off defenders and is calm under pressure like Josh Sheehan.

This is a signing of a 27-year-old who knows about League Two, not a raw prospect, and provides Flynn with that link between midfield and attack.

It’s early days – and Gambin will know that he needs to be more consistently involved as his match sharpness improves – but the left-footer showed enough at Boundary Park to suggest he could be an important figure in the promotion push.

VITAL WEEK

County host Carlisle on Tuesday and head to Harrogate on Saturday; six points to play for in the bid for League One yet the wins need to happen off the field as well.

Flynn has been frustrated in the transfer market but needs quality as well as quantity if the Exiles are to remain contenders for automatic promotion, let alone the play-offs.

County haven’t won in seven games and have gone from pace-setters to third, vulnerable in a ridiculously tight league table.

They haven’t been firing since December and are in desperate need of a boost; a win against fellow promotion hopefuls Carlisle would change the picture but so would strong signings.

Flynn needs more competition for places and an extra bit of excellence to give a second wind to the promotion bid. He needs numbers with games coming thick and fast, five of seven of them on a heavy Rodney Parade surface in February.

Supporters are understandably jittery after recent performances but that can change if the manager’s transfer frustration changes to contentment.