TEN-MAN Newport County AFC showed plenty of spirit against Plymouth Argyle but were eventually beaten as the league leaders profited from two penalties at Rodney Parade.

Graham Westley will have no issue with the effort shown by his side in the first home match of his reign but ultimately numerical advantage proved decisive.

Joe Day was sent off after 36 minutes as Graham Carey scored two penalties either side of a Jon Parkin cracker and Jordan Slew completed the scoring late on.

That made it 12 unbeaten for the visitors and left County further adrift at the bottom.

They do have two games in hand, however, and Tuesday's rearranged match at home to fellow strugglers Barnet offers an immediate chance to put points on the board.

Westley made three changes from the 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town with Dan Butler, Jennison Myrie-Williams and Marlon Jackson making way for loanees Kyle Cameron, Reece Grego-Cox and Jordan Green.

And all three played their part as the hosts showed plenty of positivity and attacking intent in the opening stages.

The visitors had the better chances with Craig Tanner sending a volley inches wide and Slew heading just off target.

But most of the action was at the other end as Cameron and Sean Rigg on the left and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb provided the threat from the flanks and Grego-Cox tried to thread balls through the middle from his position just behind the front two.

Grego-Cox sliced his shot wide in the first minute and Darren Jones twice went close with headed opportunities from a Ben Tozer long throw and a Rigg free-kick.

But the momentum shifted thanks to an unfortunate bounce after an attempted clearance was deflected into the path of Slew.

He was hauled down by Day, leading to the first penalty and a red card for the County number one.

Exiles goalkeeping coach James Bittner was called into action against his former club, replacing Sheehan, but he could not prevent Carey converting from the spot.

But, playing his first match since Argyle’s win at York City last November, he did well to claim a Carey corner and the team could regroup.

Urged on by a pumped up Westley, the hosts again started strongly and they were level within five minutes of the restart thanks to another stunner from Parkin.

The big man received the ball fully 30 yards out near the right touchline and in an instant he turned and volleyed the ball over a surprised Luke McCormack and inside his near post.

It was a goal to rival the screamer he netted at Hartlepool United in August and it got the fans off their feet and perhaps even dreaming of a famous win.

Those thoughts were quickly dismissed, however, as Carey pounced on a poor Barnum-Bobb clearance and went down in the box as Jones hung out a leg.

The Pilgrims star sent Bittner the wrong way from the spot for a second time and County once more had it all to do.

Led by Rhys Healey, who replaced the injured Parkin, they continued to attack with gusto but the 10 men couldn’t force their way back into the game for a second time.

And it was all over once Plymouth broke quickly after clearing a County corner and Slew, on his own in the middle, slotted in a third.

County: Day, Barnum-Bobb, Jones, Bennett, Cameron, Tozer, Sheehan (Bittner, 37), Grego-Cox, Rigg, Parkin (Healey, 64), Green (Compton, 78)

Subs not used: Butler, Randall, Myrie-Williams, Wood

Booked: Barnum-Bobb, Grego-Cox, Cameron, Healey

Sent off: Day

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Attendance: 3,460 (1,067 Plymouth)

Argus star man: Kyle Cameron