NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan was happy with a point gained rather than lamenting two lost against 10-man Mansfield in League Two.

The Exiles built on their 1-0 win against Colchester with a 0-0 draw at Field Mill to stay 18th in the table, five points off the relegation zone.

Mansfield are unbeaten in the league on home soil but were left clinging on after James Perch was sent off approaching the hour.

County, who had the better of the chances in the first half, put their hosts under pressure without creating any clear chances.

"It's a tough one, when a team goes down to 10 men you would like to go on and win it,” admitted Coughlan after his second game in charge.

"Even with 11 v 11 I was really pleased with what the lads did and the chances we created in the first 20 minutes when we started fast.

"I am really proud of them and pleased with them. It was a clean sheet and had somebody offered me that at the start of the game I would have taken it, so I guess I have to be pleased.”

County have kept clean sheets in both games under Coughlan, who was only appointed on Thursday, but the new boss would like to be more threatening with the ball.

"I would have liked three points with a man advantage but we probably didn't do enough,” he said.

"We had 11 shots and had three blocked, so I am not sure we asked enough questions or worked their goalkeeper enough.

"We got into the right areas and put balls in but I have to give credit to Mansfield because they put their bodies on the line, blocked, cleared, kicked and tackled.

"We've come a long way and this club has been in some dark places in the last few weeks and months.

"It's nice to have a dressing room with smiles on faces and they feel that their hard work has been rewarded with a couple of clean sheets.

"We would take four points from two games and two clean sheets all day long."