Mansfield boss John Dempster unhappy with referee in draw at Newport

Mansfield manager John Dempster was left disappointed with the performance of referee James Adcock as his side were held to a 2-2 draw by Newport at Rodney Parade.

The determining factor of the game came when Mansfield midfielder Jacob Mellis received a red card for an alleged stamp on Joss Labadie.

Prior to the sending-off Mansfield had overturned a two-goal deficit with Krystian Pearce and Danny Rose netting after Labadie and Padraig Amond gave the Exiles a 2-0 half-time lead.

“I’m delighted with the players and pleased with the point,” said Dempster.

“I think when the fixtures first came out you looked at this game and thought an away point wouldn’t be a bad one at all. Most teams will come here and leave with nothing. It was a very eventful game.

“Newport were always a threat but it was a sucker punch to concede a goal so early from our point of view.

“I thought we showed an abundance of character and I don’t think Newport knew what hit them in the early stages of the second half.

“They threw the kitchen sink at us and we stayed strong. We changed our shape at half-time and we pushed forward a lot more.

“It’s just a shame that the sending-off meant we had to park the bus a little bit to get that point. I didn’t think it was a red card. The referee said it was a stamp but I watched it back and it wasn’t.

“Jacob accidentally fell of Labadie so I’m disappointed.”

The Exiles took the lead after seven minutes when Labadie connected with Ryan Haynes’ cross to find the back of the net.

Amond put Newport further ahead with a penalty in the 34th minute after Jamille Matt was brought down in the box.

Mansfield scored two goals in the space of two minutes in the early stages of the second half.

Substitute Kellan Gordon’s free-kick was headed into the back of the net by captain Pearce after 47 minutes.

A dire mistake from Newport goalkeeper Tom King then allowed Rose’s weak shot to trickle in to level the scores.

“We went through everything at half-time including game management,” said Flynn.

“I praised the players and told them what to be aware of in the second half. You can’t give Krystian Pearce a free header in the box.

“We were also too deep as a back line so there were three or four errors which led to a goal.

“We worked our socks off and were by far the fitter team. We created the better chances and should have been four up at half-time.

“I thought we were really good and it’s just a shame that those errors have cost us an extra two points.”