SWINDON TOWN............................................1 NEWPORT COUNTY.......................................0

HOT on the heels of their FA Cup exit last weekend, Newport County are now out of the running in the EFL Trophy after a disappointing defeat at the County Ground.

James Rowberry’s side went to Swindon with high hopes of pipping Arsenal U21 to the second qualifying spot in Group N and reaching the knock-out phase of the tournament. To do that they needed at least a draw.

Rowberry made a number of changes from the side that went down 1-0 at Morecambe in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday and would have been pleased to welcome back skipper Matty Dolan after injury.

He got an hour under his belt and should be fit to head up to Hartlepool on Friday night for a big League Two clash.

Swindon started well and pushed forward right from the start even though they were already guaranteed a ticket into the next stage. It looked as though they might have a chance to take the lead in the 18th minute when referee James Oldham appeared to award the home side a penalty.

A brilliant through ball in the visitors’ box by former County man Harry McKirdy put Jordan Lyden in the clear.

As he tried to push the ball past Nick Townsend, the County keeper judged his challenge brilliantly and got two hands on the ball to claim it cleanly.

Lyden went tumbling over the top of him and the referee blew his whistle.

There was momentary chaos as Townsend presented the ball to the referee, illustrating he had won it cleanly and a rather red-faced referee then gave the ball back to Townsend and waved play on.

Kevin Ellison blasted a shot at a defender seven yards out after good work by Jermaine Hylton and Timmy Abraham down the left and Abraham had a dangerous header well saved just before the break.

It looked as though the first goal was going to be crucial and it was Swindon who came up with it in the 57th minute. Townsend could only push away a drive from Jayden Mitchell-Lawson and Lyden pounced to tap home his first goal of the season.

Townsend made amends 20 minutes later by diving to his left to deny Mitchell-Lawson, who looked certain to score a second goal for the Robins.

County worked hard to the end, but that is now two cup defeats and no goals in the space of four days.