NEWPORT County AFC boss Nelson Jardim felt the better side didn’t win after a goalless League Two draw with Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade.

The Exiles failed to score for the third league game on the spin on home soil but had their chances to record a morale-boosting success.

Just like against Morecambe last time out, County had a penalty saved when striker Kyle Hudlin had his effort kept out by Jordan Wright approaching the hour.

They also were agonisingly close to a winner at the death but striker Courtney Baker-Richardson couldn’t produce the close-range finish from Cameron Antwi’s cross.

Grimsby also had some late pressure – and a golden chance for Danny Rose – but head coach Jardim believes his players deserved three points.

"I have to focus on the overall performance and we were good," he said.

“We were the better team in terms of everything, mainly creating goal-scoring chances even if we didn't score and for the second game at home we had a penalty saved.”

Nonetheless, County chalked up a point and they sit 15th with an eight-point advantage over the relegation zone after starting the campaign being tipped by many to struggle.

Jardim said: "We have played a third of the league games now and have 20 points. We have 30 games to go, how quickly can we get another 10 wins?

"It's a point and we will focus on our performances because the results won't always go for you.

"It was a bitter taste at the end but we are one third into the season and have 20 points, if we do the same in the other thirds then we will be okay."

The Exiles have failed to score in three Parade league fixtures on the spin after also firing a blank in the 3-0 loss to Chesterfield and goalless draw with Fleetwood.

However, they have missed two penalties, failed to take a number of big chances and were also controversially denied a goal at 1-0 down in the loss to the Spireites.

“At least we are creating and getting into good positions to score," said Jardim.

"I am not completely happy and want them to be doing more but when you are forced into so many changes then you have to go back to basics, making sure players are thinking about the same things at the same time.

"I was pleased with the overall performance and the goal-scoring chances were there, some of them obvious. We have to keep going and forcing things to create more chances to score."

County, who travel to Notts County on Saturday, are still waiting to learn the full extent of injuries to wing Bobby Kamwa and midfielder Aaron Wildig after they were forced off.

The Magpies are sixth and are on a four-game winning streak in all competitions at Meadow Lane, but lost at promotion rivals Crewe 2-0 at the weekend.