10-man Newport hold off the Hatters

TEN-MAN Newport County battled to a draw with play-off hopefuls Luton Town, which leaves them six points from safety with eight games left to play.

County made a terrible start when Danny Hylton converted an early penalty but Sean Rigg equalised with a fantastic free kick. Both teams had chances to claim all three points but were made to settle for one while Mark O’Brien was shown a second yellow card late in the game.

The supporters were in fine voice as they filled the stands but the positivity was short-lived as referee Charles Breakspear awarded Luton Town a fifth-minute penalty.

Breakspear was the man in charge when the Hatters were given a controversial 97th-minute penalty that won them the game in the reverse fixture but this decision was more clear-cut.

Hylton latched on to a quick throw-in and cut inside Sid Nelson but was brought down by the defender’s trailing leg. The striker stepped up to send Joe Day the wrong way for his 24th goal of the season.

Luton looked for a quick-fire double and should have got it when Ollie Palmer did well to set up Jordan Cook, but the midfielder failed to get a telling touch in front of goal.

County battled their way back into the game and Alex Samuel went close to an equaliser but, with his back to goal, he couldn’t direct his shot on target. But the hosts continued to attack and got their reward midway through the first half.

Nelson ventured upfield before being fouled 30 yards from goal. Sean Rigg then produced a moment of magic as he fired the resulting free kick past a motionless Matt Macey for a deserved leveller.

Luton Town enjoyed the early exchanges of the second half but it was the Exiles who had the best chance of the half as Tom OwenEvans was played clean through but Arsenal loanee Macey turned his effort round the post.

The hosts more than matched their opponents but the game swung in Luton’s favour when O’Brien was sent off with 10 minutes left to play. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Samuel and Marlon Jackson both went close in the dying minutes but neither could find the target. Newport County: J Day; M O’Brien, D Jones, S Nelson (T Owen-Evans 56); D Pipe, J Labadie (capt), S Bennett, S Rigg, D Butler; A Samuel, R Bird (M Jackson 85).