Match ends, Newport County 1, Plymouth Argyle 2.
NewportNewport County1PlymouthPlymouth Argyle2
League Two leaders Plymouth fought back to deny former manager John Sheridan's Newport County a point at Rodney Parade and open a three-point gap at the top.
County led at half-time after Scott Boden lobbed goalkeeper Luke McCormick following Lenell John-Lewis' flick-on.
But Jake Jervis' close-range header turned the tables three minutes after the break as Argyle took control.
Newport held out until Ryan Brunt had time to turn and fire in left-footed 20-minutes from time.
The Exiles - who are 29 points and 19 places behind Plymouth - rallied, but Mark Byrne was twice denied by McCormick.
Newport manager Sheridan told BBC Radio Wales: "The biggest downer for me, again, is giving the lead away. I thought we played well in the first half and deserved the lead.
"We should have more points from the last few games we've played, but I'm not making excuses - we've got to know how to see games through.
"We've played a team who are top of the league and I thought we were the better team - their best player was their keeper (McCormick)."
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 4-4-2
- 30Day
- 24Barnum-Bobb
- 12Donacien
- 21Partridge
- 3BarrowSubstituted forCollinsat 71'minutes
- 4O'Sullivan
- 16Hughes
- 33Byrne
- 18Bennett
- 19Boden
- 10John-Lewis
Substitutes
- 2Holmes
- 6Taylor
- 14Ofori-Twumasi
- 15Green
- 20Owen-Evans
- 22Parselle
- 39Collins
Plymouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 23McCormick
- 2Mellor
- 5NelsonBooked at 83mins
- 6HartleyBooked at 53mins
- 3Sawyer
- 4McHugh
- 11WyldeSubstituted forSimpsonat 45'minutes
- 26ThrelkeldBooked at 44mins
- 27TannerSubstituted forPurringtonat 80'minutes
- 14JervisBooked at 87mins
- 17Brunt
Substitutes
- 8Simpson
- 9Reid
- 15Harvey
- 16Purrington
- 18Smalley
- 24Rooney
- 31Walton
- Referee:
- Fred Graham
- Attendance:
- 4,314
Match Stats
Home TeamNewportAway TeamPlymouth
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away8
- Corners
- Home4
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Plymouth Argyle 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Collins (Newport County) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Booking
Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Brunt (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Curtis Nelson (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Hand ball by Matt Partridge (Newport County).
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Ben Purrington replaces Craig Tanner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Scott Bennett (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tommy O'Sullivan (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Kelvin Mellor.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mark Byrne (Newport County) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Byrne (Newport County) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lenell John-Lewis (Newport County) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Aaron Collins replaces Scott Barrow.
Goal!
Goal! Newport County 1, Plymouth Argyle 2. Ryan Brunt (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Curtis Nelson (Plymouth Argyle) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Matt Partridge.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
