NELSON Jardim admits Newport County AFC need to smarten up after the moments of madness that led to Ciaran Brennan and Kyle Jameson being sent off against Port Vale.

The Exiles, who travel to Swindon tomorrow in League Two, will be without Brennan for three fixtures and Jameson for one after the central defenders were dismissed at Rodney Parade.

At 4-1 down and with frustration growing, Brennan was outsmarted by seasoned Vale midfielder Ben Garrity after pressing for possession on the touchline.

The pair went down, Garrity then held the summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday’s leg and the 24-year-old County man responded with a gentle shove and caught his opponent when making a kicking motion to try and get free.

The fourth official instructed referee Stephen Parkinson to show red, although there wouldn’t have been many complaints had it just been a yellow card for handbags.

Newport frustration was exacerbated by Garrity getting away without punishment for his part in the incident.

Brennan will miss the League Two games against Swindon, Barrow and Crewe with Tuesday’s EFL Trophy clash with West Ham Under-21s not counting towards the suspension.

OFF: Kyle Jameson was sent off for County for kicking a ball into the Port Vale supportersOFF: Kyle Jameson was sent off for County for kicking a ball into the Port Vale supporters (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

Jameson’s dismissal was more clear cut with the 26-year-old losing his head soon after he had been booked for another poor decision when trying, and failing, to save a shot on the goalline.

The away support delayed a throw-in by lobbing a second ball onto the field and the centre-back kicked it back into the fans to receive a second yellow.

County limited the damage to 4-1 on the afternoon but must now cope without two more defenders in Swindon.

“We have addressed it and spoken as a group about it, and we move on,” said head coach Jardim.

“Ciaran’s sending off was just an experienced player trying to play a bit with a player who is still learning.

“He got carried away in the moment, it was nothing serious and my job is to make sure they understand what happened and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

“It was an experienced player grabbing his leg, he was trying to get out and probably he was not clever enough to deal with that.”