NEWPORT County AFC manager James Rowberry insists he shares the fans’ frustrations after Barrow condemned his side to a sixth defeat in nine games.

Some supporters booed the team off after the 2-0 defeat and an exasperated Rowberry blamed “individual errors” but insisted there was still “light at the end of the tunnel” for the Exiles.

“Ultimately, we’ve not been good enough in both boxes,” admitted the manager.

“You can talk about tactics and formations, but you can’t legislate for individual errors and it’s a massive frustration for me at the minute.”

County dominated possession all afternoon but went in 1-0 down after Priestley Farquharson allowed Josh Gordon to race on to a ball over the top and bundle a shot past Nick Townsend in the final minute of the first half.

And Gordon secured the three points for the visitors with his second goal, from the penalty spot on 59 minutes, after 20-year-old Aston Villa loanee Hayden Lindley brought down Robbie Gotts in the box.

“The first goal is a perfect example of what we’ve been doing and the goals we’ve conceded – a routine kick that we should be dealing with, and we have dealt with for 44 minutes,” said Rowberry.

“To be 1-0 down at half-time is harsh, but we conceded a poor goal. We’re conceding really sloppy goals and I can’t put my finger on why.

“And Hayden showed his inexperience [for the penalty], and he recognises that. He’s running away from goal, and he doesn’t need to go sliding in.

“We didn’t really create enough after that. We had the ball a lot but didn’t create enough. We didn’t put enough crosses into the box.”

Asked about the reaction of a section of fans, Rowberry said: “I sense their frustrations and I’m just as frustrated as them, I really am.

“I don’t want to lose three games on the spin – nobody does. But it’s part of the game and we’ve got to bounce back from it.

“We play Forest Green [in the EFL Trophy] on Tuesday now and Carlisle on Saturday and we need performances, and we need results.”

Rowberry pointed to the poor starts made by two teams who ended up winning promotion last season as reason for supporters not to give up hope.

“We’ve got to produce more than we are at the minute,” he added. “But I looked at last season and where Bristol Rovers were at this point, where Exeter were at one point, so there’s still optimism and light at the end of the tunnel.

“We’ve got to keep believing and we’ve got to put things right.”