NEWPORT County AFC were beaten 4-1 at Bloomfield Road. Rhys Healey levelled in the first half and Sean Rigg saw a penalty saved after the break before Blackpool scored three goals in the final 30 minutes. Here's what we learned...

1. Scot Bennett is a big miss

The skipper was missing through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the defeat to Wycombe Wanderers and his importance to the side became more evident than ever.

Darren Jones didn’t look anything like as assured as he has in recent weeks without his central defensive partner and with Jamie Turley and Kyle Cameron also missing it led to a reshuffle that severely weakened the side.

2. Ben Tozer is better off in midfield

Tozer’s performances in the defensive midfield role have been one of the key components in the success of the team in recent weeks.

He has the talent to play at centre-back but moving him there unbalanced the defence and the midfield and meant County were much easier to break down.

3. Abdoulaye Meite is not ready

It wasn’t a debut to remember for the Ivory Coast international defender, who replaced Jazzi Barnum-Bobb just before County conceded three goals without reply.

The manager admits he’s not yet fit enough and the way Kyle Vassell went past him suggests it may be some time before we see the best of the veteran centre-back.

4. Sean Rigg might give penalties a wide berth

A second penalty saved in eight days proved crucial in this match and it’s a fair bet that we won’t see Rigg stepping up the next time the Exiles are awarded a spot-kick.

This one was a better strike than the one at Meadow Lane, where he scored from the rebound, but Sam Slocombe got it away from the danger zone and it’s time to give someone else a crack.

5. Exiles need a quiet week

It’s been a hectic schedule of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday in recent weeks and the fact that there is no midweek game to prepare for will come as a welcome break for Graham Westley and his players.

It will give the boss time to work on players’ fitness and hopefully allow some injuries to heal and we can expect to see a refreshed and revitalised squad for the FA Cup second round tie at Plymouth Argyle.