Bird clips wings
Newport 1-0 Accrington
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO NEWPORT COUNTY ....... 1 STANLEY........................... 0 SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley had their 15-game unbeaten run finally come to an end after they suffered a defeat against battling Newport County.
Ryan Bird got the only goal of the match to lift Newport out of the League Two relegation zone and condemn the Reds to defeat.
It makes it unlikely that Stanley will now finish in the play-offs after the loss, and manager John Coleman was unhappy that his team’s unbeaten run is now over.
“I’m disappointed with how it’s come to an end as we fought valiantly for 15 games to keep that going,” he said.
“After they scored we went out with a whimper and didn’t threaten their goal so it’s frustrating as they haven’t had to do much to win the game.
“Some may say they wanted it more than us as they had more to play for, but they didn’t as we had the play-offs to go for.
“Up to them scoring I think we were by far the better team and made the better chances, but their goalkeeper has made two glorious saves.”
Newport started the match well and forced Accrington goalkeeper Marek Rodak into action early on to keep out Mark Randall’s free kick.
Stanley then began to take over as the half progressed, with Jordan Clark and Shay McCartan both going close for the visitors.
Accrington’s best chance of the half then came from a Newport player, as County captain Joss Labadie diverted McCartan’s cross towards his own goal, but Day was on hand to make a good reaction save and prevent an own goal.
Newport then had a brief spell of possession, as Sean Rigg tested Rodak before Alex Samuel fired a shot wide.
Stanley soon began dictating play again though and the half ended with Omar Beckles and Matty Pearson having chances, but once again they couldn’t make them count and it was goalless at the break.
The Reds picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, with Day again called into action, this time to push Noor Husin’s shot around the post.
Coleman’s men had been wasteful with their opportunities, and Newport made them pay when they made the breakthrough on the hour mark.
Randall’s initial shot flicked into the air, with Bird then on hand to slot the ball home from close range and make it 1-0.
That goal appeared to give Newport confidence and they almost doubled their lead a few minutes later when Alex Samuel was one on one with Rodak, but the Stanley goalkeeper managed to push the shot over the crossbar.
Mark Hughes headed wide for Accrington as they tried to find an equaliser, with Coleman then turning to his substitute’s bench, bringing on Jonny Edwards and Terry Gornell.
It was McCartan who had the final chance of the match for the Reds though, as his late free kick couldn’t find the net and Newport were able to hold on to pick up a 1-0 win.
It was Newport’s fourth win in their last five games and sees them two points clear of the drop after climbing out of the relegation zone, while Stanley are in 13th, four points from the play-offs with two games remaining. Up next for Stanley is a home game against Luton Town on Saturday.