TEN-MAN Newport County AFC were beaten 2-0 at Carlisle United last night. Here are the talking points...

Travel sickness a real problem

County suffered a sixth successive away defeat in League Two and their 10th in the last 11 on the road in the league.

The Exiles have only won three away league matches all season – at Forest Green Rovers, Swindon Town and Scunthorpe United – and claimed just 12 points from a possible 51 away from Rodney Parade so far.

In theory, Saturday’s trip to bottom club Stevenage offers the ideal opportunity to improve on that miserable form. Defeat at the Lamex would be a real concern for Michael Flynn and his team.

South Wales Argus:

Ref justice or indiscipline?

Flynn was frustrated by what he saw as two big decisions going against his side – the penalty to allow Josh Kayode to double Carlisle’s lead and the red card shown to Ryan Inniss for chopping down Kayode.

The penalty was a soft one, with Jack Bridge hitting the deck after minimal contact from Dale Gorman. But Saturday’s matchwinner was perhaps too eager to make up for being turned easily on the touchline and gave the Carlisle midfielder the chance to go down.

And referee Graham Salisbury had no option but to send off Inniss for an extremely rash challenge. The Crystal Palace loanee let down his teammates and once again demonstrated the indiscipline that has proved costly in the past.

Second-half fight

After a nightmare first 45 minutes, the contest was more or less over and most County fans would have been fearing a drubbing similar to the one Oldham Athletic handed out a few weeks ago.

The 10 men rode their luck at times and could easily have conceded again if Salisbury hadn’t ignored several other penalty appeals and Tom King hadn’t made a superb fingertip save.

But they did at least show some fight after the break and could even have snatched an unlikely point if Joss Labadie had not missed the target with two decent chances.

South Wales Argus:

No goal rush for the 49

Spare a thought for the 49 supporters who made the 580-mile round-trip from Newport and only got home in the early hours of this morning.

Carlisle away should never be a Tuesday night game and, to be fair, it would have been held on January 4 if County hadn’t been in FA Cup action at Millwall that day.

But credit to those dedicated individuals who gave up so much time for so little reward. Hopefully they will be rewarded with a better outcome at Stevenage on Saturday.

Read more: Newport County boss frustrated by referee's decisions after defeat at Carlisle United

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