NEWPORT County AFC slipped out of the play-off spots after being edged out by League Two promotion rivals Exeter City at Rodney Parade.

A cagey clash was settled by Tim Dieng’s header in the 72nd minute, the midfielder escaping to nod in a Jack Sparkes free-kick.

County fired a black for the second game on the spin while they lost back-to-back home league fixtures for the first time since November 2019.

James Rowberry's side slip from fifth to eighth in the table but are still only three points off the automatic promotion spots with six games to go.

Here are the talking points from Rodney Parade…

South Wales Argus: BLOCKED: Archie Collins got back to deny Finn AzazBLOCKED: Archie Collins got back to deny Finn Azaz

FINE MARGINS

It was a game that seemed to be drifting towards a 0-0 until Dieng struck.

A share of the spoils probably would have been fair and County were certainly nowhere near their best against a strong Exeter team, but they still had their chances.

Finn Azaz seemed to lack conviction when put through by Dom Telford after 14 minutes, when Archie Collins got back to make a fine block.

County then wasted a golden opportunity after Scot Bennett stole possession and charged forward in an initial three on two with Telford to the right and Fisher to the left, plus James Waite and Finn Azaz in close support.

Things look easy on the screen but slipping in Fisher for a shot on goal was an option that wasn’t taken, but even then there was still a half chance for Azaz on the turn.

That was followed by the Villa loanee shooting tamely with his left after a lovely move ended with Telford flicking the ball to him in the box approaching the half hour.

At 1-0 down County were denied by fine blocks in the box of James Clarke and Telford shots, then in the closing stages the league’s top scorer frustratingly ignored an unmarked Waite in favour of another effort that was blocked.

The Exiles didn’t shift the ball as well as they can and they struggled to really probe in the spaces in front of the defence yet watching the game back will still reveal missed opportunities.

South Wales Argus: DELIGHT: Exeter celebrate Tim Dieng's headerDELIGHT: Exeter celebrate Tim Dieng's header

WOEFUL WINNER

The post-match deflation wasn’t helped by the manner of the winner; conceding from a set play made defeat all the harder to take.

It doesn’t make good viewing with Bennett shrugged off far too easily by Dieng, who had done exactly the same earlier in the second half when he wasted a free header from a corner.

There was a big area for Sparkes to exploit and County looked a bit too passive, with too many defenders caught flat-footed.

PICKING A PASS

There were frequent spottings of the 'Rowberry pirouette' in his technical area on Saturday afternoon, when the manager rapidly spins on the spot in disappointment, hands moving out of pockets and into the air, before venting his frustration at a member of staff about a wasteful pass.

South Wales Argus: FRUSTRATED: James RowberryFRUSTRATED: James Rowberry

The manager demands that his players are brave in the bid to play out from the back and work their way up the pitch.

There were a few too many long balls against Exeter, players were still keen to take possession but seemed to struggle to find a pass into the pockets.

Balls in the channels weren't as effective with Alex Fisher up front instead of the more mobile Rob Street or Courtney Baker-Richardson.

They didn’t pop the ball around much in the middle third of the pitch against a well-drilled Grecians side and players didn’t manage to get on the turn, with referee Christopher Sarginson seemingly reluctant to give free-kicks.

It comes after Hartlepool and Bradford changed their shape to try and negate the Exiles’ strengths.

Are slight alterations needed or is that just panicking because, as outlined at the very start, County could easily have hit the front?

Perhaps Rowberry will tinker to the extent that those of us with untrained eyes won’t notice but one imagines it will be ‘same again, do it better’ in Swindon.

One change will surely be up front, where Baker-Richardson made a welcome return from injury with half an hour off the bench.

STILL TENSE AND TIGHT

Results didn’t go County’s way but there was more evidence of the drama to come over the next month.

Bristol Rovers rallied from going a goal down, Port Vale turned one point into three with the clock approaching 90, Tranmere lost two points deep into added time.

The midweek action sees leaders Forest Green host Mansfield (come on Rovers) and one of Salford and Port Vale might have to start another unbeaten streak.

Eighth-placed County are outside the play-off spots and Saturday was undeniably deflating but there are 18 points left up for grabs and Rowberry’s side have shown they can go on winning runs.

Central defender Josh Pask could return to the side at Swindon after injury and influential midfielder Ollie Cooper could be back for Crawley.

The gut feeling is that County are now in a battle for one of the four play-off spots but don’t rule anything out.

They have six games left – Swindon (a), Crawley (h), Sutton (a), Colchester (h), Port Vale (a), Rochdale (h) – and should be targeting 12 points.

Last season Michael Flynn’s side hit 73, a record since returning to the EFL in 2013, and Rowberry’s squad need 10 to match that and be in the mix.

Don’t panic!