NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh was left frustrated after a solitary defensive error sealed a third straight defeat for his side.

County produced a much better performance following the 4-0 loss at Cambridge United and the 3-0 reverse at Northampton Town.

But Darren Jones’ mistake let in Shrewsbury Town substitute Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro to steal all three points for the visitors with a neat finish 13 minutes from time.

“I’m extremely frustrated,” said Edinburgh. “It was a tough game out there in tough conditions with two teams who worked very hard and unfortunately a mistake has cost us the game.

“They shouldn’t have had the opportunity and we’re disappointed but it was more about the performance today.

“We went toe to toe with a top team and we matched them but one costly error means it is three defeats on the spin.

“We’ve got another tough away game at Wimbledon now where we’ve got to start a run.”

On a bitterly cold and windy afternoon at Rodney Parade it was a game low on quality football and with few clear cut chances for either side.

Exiles top scorer Aaron O’Connor thought he’d broken the deadlock 10 minutes before the break when he headed in Mark Byrne’s perfect cross but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Akpa Akpro’s winner came out of the blue as the game appeared to be meandering towards a 0-0 draw.

But the goal saw tempers fray in the latter stages with several players squaring up to each other before Shrews sub Keith Southern saw red for a shocking challenge on Max Porter in stoppage time.

Micky Mellon’s men clung on to go top of League Two while County remain sixth and are still five points clear of eighth place.

“Sometimes you forget how hard it is to win football matches and we’ve certainly found that in the last three games,” added Edinburgh.

“There wasn’t a lot of free flowing football. The pitch was a bit dry and the wind played its part.

“Both teams had the same system as well. It was hard fought and very tight.

“I believe in our system and I believe in the individuals to get us on another run.

“We’re fully aware that it’s easy to lose football matches and we’ve got to go to Wimbledon now and get a result.

“We’ve got to find an inner strength and a belief and get back to what we did well, which we did today.

“But no one is going to give you anything in this league.”