NEWPORT County AFC manager Warren Feeney felt his side should have beaten 10-man Hartlepool United but he admitted they didn’t deserve anything more than a point.

Feeney was frustrated as he watched from the stands at Victoria Park after being slapped with a two-match touchline ban by the FA for his reaction to the controversial defeat at Luton Town on August 16.

The Exiles boss saw his side go behind after just 95 seconds before Hartlepool defender Toto Nsiala was shown a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity with a blatant hand ball in the third minute.

Sean Rigg converted the free-kick and Jon Parkin scored a spectacular second to put County in charge on 27 minutes.

But Feeney felt his side squandered their numerical advantage after that goal and he was highly critical of the performance.

Padraig Amond headed in the equaliser on 38 minutes and it was the hosts who looked most likely to find a winner with visiting goalkeeper Joe Day forced into several superb stops.

“I’m obviously disappointed,” said Feeney.

“With them going down to 10 men you’d like think you can go on and win the game.

“But sometimes it’s difficult playing against 10 men and I thought Hartlepool were absolutely outstanding.

“They worked very hard but I thought we were poor.

“Our final ball was poor and the goal we conceded in the first minute typified us – the way we looked the whole game.

“I thought we huffed and puffed but our quality wasn’t there.

“Sometimes when the other side go down to 10 men you can think it’s too easy,” he added.

“I thought in a lot of the games we’ve looked really good but today was the first time I thought we looked off it.”

“Our passing was poor on a sticky pitch but full credit to Hartlepool, I thought they worked really hard and played well.

“You’re disappointed not to take the three points but before the game you’d have taken a point away from home, if I’m being honest.”

Feeney confirmed that he still hopes to add to his squad before Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy match at Plymouth Argyle.

And the Exiles boss said he plans to make several changes to his starting XI for that match.