No worries for Wilcox as Exiles pinch point
SCUNTHORPE boss Russ Wilcox expressed his delight despite his side being held at the death by Newport County.
The visitors had roared into a 2-1 lead at Rodney Parade thanks to Paddy Madden’s equaliser and David Syers’ thunderbolt after the break as they fought back following Lee Minshull’s first-half opener.
But Chris Zebroski’s smart finish on the turn in injury time saw the spoils shared and Wilcox had no complaints.
“I am not disappointed despite conceding late, I am delighted with the group, at halftime Newport were by far the better side and very effective in how they played,” he said.
“We’d have liked the win but Newport will feel they deserved something, we responded great after the break and we are in March and haven’t lost since November. If we keep fighting we won’t be far from that top three and our finishing was clinical.”
County manager Justin Edinburgh opted to not talk to the media after a week where he’s had plenty of local headlines.
But Newport’s first team coach Wayne Hatswell felt that a point was the least the Exiles deserved.
“We expected a tough game and when they showed that clinical touch in the second half we looked like we’d be beaten and the least we deserved was a draw,” he explained.
“In the first half we were sensational and on the front foot and if we’d have got that second goal it would’ve inspired us to get that second goal.
“But we kept at it and even though we had a bad 20 minutes when we conceded twice, we felt we could and should take something from the game.”
This was Newport’s fourth successive home clash in a run of five on the spin.
County raced out of the blocks and midfielder Ryan Burge especially caught the eye, leading the charge for Newport’s central midfield trio.
He’d missed a great chance and seen an effort saved by Sam Slocombe before providing the ammunition for Newport’s opening salvo.
It came on 25 minutes, Burge whipping in a freekick that Slocombe only managed to partially punch, Rene Howe heading back across goal to Minshull who nodded home.
However, the visitors haven’t built such an imposing record by accident and their quality showed in the second period when from their first incisive attack Marcus Williams opened up Newport and presented Madden with a tap-in.
Syers was then teed up to smash home but Zebroski’s late effort saw Newport claim a point.