NEWPORT County AFC led through Ryan Bird's early goal but Krystian Pearce levelled for Mansfield Town before the break and Shaquile Coulthirst netted the winner for the hosts from the spot after Exiles striker Jaanai Gordon was sent off. Here's what we learned...

1. More absentees

Darren Jones returns from suspension and Scot Bennett from injury and County’s defensive worries are eased but then David Pipe goes down with illness and Mark O’Brien pulls up in the warm-up.

With Sid Nelson, Joss Labadie and Sean Rigg still out, not to mention Lenell John-Lewis and Jamie Turley, and suspensions coming for Jaanai Gordon and most likely Mitch Rose, the Exiles are missing half a team as we enter the business end of the season.

2. First goal wins anyone?

For the third time in a week and the fifth time since the turn of the year, County led but failed to win.

In fact the Exiles have failed to convert a winning position into a victory an amazing 12 times so far this season.

South Wales Argus:

3. Ref justice

Sooner or later the luck has to turn for County, surely? The second yellow card for Jaanai Gordon looked extremely harsh with the referee seemingly influenced by the Mansfield players, management and fans.

The penalty (above) – the 14th County have conceded in League Two this season – was also harsh on Graham Westley’s men.

The ball definitely hit Craig Reid’s arm as he blocked a shot but it was blasted at him from close range and was certainly far less blatant than the one County didn’t get against Morecambe.

4. Gordon’s naivety

The striker, a surprise starter in place of Aaron Williams, enjoyed a productive first half as he linked up promisingly with Ryan Bird up front.

But he got away with a yellow for a nasty looking tackle that incensed the home players and got the crowd on his back.

The second yellow after a routine aeriel challenge looked harsh but a more experienced player would have got himself away from the action and ensured he had a quiet five minutes rather than give the referee an opportunity to send him off.

Westley was going to take the youngster off before the first yellow only to change his mind and probably should have removed him before the second.

South Wales Argus:

5. Fans’ anger

It’s now one win in 19 games in all competitions as the Exiles remain six points from safety with 13 fixtures to go and some fans have evidently lost faith in the manager.

Westley has been the target for stick on this website, on messageboards and social media for a while now but he was confronted by at least one angry County fan as he left the pitch at Field Mill (above).

The manager knows he needs victories and fast if he’s to win back the trust of some wavering supporters.