LUTON Town’s Welsh manager Nathan Jones has hit out at what he terms the ‘antics’ deployed by Newport County AFC and suggested the Exiles got what they deserved at Kenilworth Road.

Jones’ Luton beat County 2-1 on Tuesday night thanks to a controversial stoppage-time penalty from Cameron McGeehan.

His opposite number Warren Feeney was left seething by the decision of referee Charles Breakspear to award the penalty after Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu appeared to dive in the box.

But Rhondda-born Jones insisted his side deserved the win because they had played all the football while County were intent on frustrating his players.

“I’m delighted because from start to finish we went about our business as I want us to go about our business,” said the Hatters boss.

“We out-passed, we out-played [County] and we didn’t change.

“There was a lot of antics going on in the game,” he added.

“They set up to stop us playing, to negate space and stop us playing so it was going to be difficult.

I’m really proud of my players and I’m proud to be Luton manager.”

On the penalty decision, Jones backed his player and pointed out that County’s Jennison Myrie-William had been booked for diving in the second half.

The winger was one of six visitors to receive a yellow card, while Luton’s Johnny Mullins got two and was dismissed in the 84th minute.

Jones added: “I haven’t seen it. If he’s blatantly dived I won’t condone that but he said he felt contact and if he’s felt contact and gone down the fine.

“If I’m honest, Joss Labadie was going down at every opportunity, Myrie-Williams got booked for diving and there was a lot of antics.

“My keeper had his foot stamped on. They were making it difficult. They were playing their kind of game against us so we had to stand up to that and we did.

“With the size and the aggression and antics that they have they will cause teams problems and we stood up to that.

“We showed great character and I’m proud of my players. I love them.”