Match ends, Newport County 1, Burton Albion 1.
NewportNewport County1BurtonBurton Albion1
Burton Albion's hopes of automatic promotion suffered a blow following a 1-1 draw at 15th-placed Newport.
Andy Sandell gave the Exiles an early lead at Rodney Parade, blasting home a powerful shot from outside the area.
Michael Symes equalised for the Brewers from the penalty spot after Dominic Knowles was fouled by County defender Darcy Blake.
Burton, who are fifth, are now six points behind third-placed Rochdale with two games to go.
Both sides pushed for a winner after the break and Alex MacDonald hit the post for Burton with a long-range effort.
Albion goalkeeper Dean Lyness denied Sandell a second deep into injury time, keeping out his close-range header.
Newport County assistant manager Jimmy Dack told BBC Radio Wales:
"I thought it was a very soft penalty.
"We saw it at half-time and the referee didn't have a good view of it.
"I thought he made a big decision and it was a costly decision on our behalf."
Burton Albion manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:
"Reaching the play-offs is a really good achievement. It was always going to be difficult to do that, particularly at the start of the season after losing the players we did.
"After a very, very poor start, it took us ten minutes or so to get going and we found ourselves one-nil down within that ten minutes. We got back into the game and we settled down a little bit. They started the second half a little bit brighter, but in the last twenty-five minutes we got into some really good positions.
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to nick the win, which I think would have been a little unfair on Newport too, because they're a tough, physical side and I thought that was a really committed performance from them."
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Pidgeley
- 18Jackson
- 12Willmott
- 4Porter
- 16Blake
- 13SandellBooked at 90mins
- 23JolleySubstituted forChapmanat 64'minutes
- 8MinshullSubstituted forJeffersat 76'minutes
- 20Feely
- 17FlynnSubstituted forO'Connorat 57'minutes
- 11Zebroski
Substitutes
- 3Hughes
- 7Chapman
- 10O'Connor
- 14Jeffers
- 24Amadi-Holloway
- 33McLoughlin
Burton
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Lyness
- 26GrayBooked at 18mins
- 15McFadzean
- 7Bell
- 6Sharps
- 21Holness
- 12HemmingsSubstituted forMacDonaldat 61'minutesBooked at 75mins
- 23Palmer
- 28SymesSubstituted forKeeat 78'minutes
- 18KnowlesSubstituted forHarnessat 72'minutes
- 17Phillips
Substitutes
- 1Lainton
- 2Edwards
- 9Alexander
- 11MacDonald
- 24Slade
- 27Harness
- 29Kee
- Referee:
- Brendan Malone
- Attendance:
- 2,630
Match Stats
Home TeamNewportAway TeamBurton
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Burton Albion 1.
Post update
Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Darcy Blake.
Booking
Andy Sandell (Newport County) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Andy Sandell (Newport County).
Post update
David Gray (Burton Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Feely (Newport County).
Post update
Ian Sharps (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andy Sandell (Newport County) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by David Gray.
Post update
Max Porter (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Alexander MacDonald (Burton Albion).
Post update
Andy Sandell (Newport County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Marcus Harness (Burton Albion).
Post update
Attempt saved. Shaun Jeffers (Newport County) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Darcy Blake (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alexander MacDonald (Burton Albion).
Post update
Attempt missed. Alexander MacDonald (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Robbie Willmott (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marcus Holness (Burton Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
