Newport 'schoolkid' sendings off slammed
- Published
Newport County’s red card duo have been slammed for their lack of discipline against Port Vale, being told they behaved liked “schoolkids”.
Centre-backs Ciaran Brennan and Kyle Jameson were both sent off as the Exiles were thrashed 4-1 at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
It was part of a second-half capitulation that confirmed the first home defeat of the League Two campaign under head coach Nelson Jardim.
Brennan was given a straight red for kicking out at Port Vale captain Ben Garrity in an off-the-ball incident less than 13 minutes after the restart.
And Jameson followed him down the tunnel nine minutes later after a scuffle saw him receive a second yellow card.
County were already 4-1 down at the time, but former Newport defender Jason Perry was highly critical of the actions that now leave Jardim with a defensive selection crisis for Saturday’s trip to Swindon.
“It was a schooling for the centre-halves and they will learn,” Perry told BBC Radio Wales Sport. “But the biggest errors came after the goals: two players sent of that will cost them further down the line.
“At 2-1 down [at half-time] they were still in it and there was hope things can turn around, but Newport didn’t just press the self-destruct button, they kept their finger on it for 45 minutes.
“They were two of the silliest sendings offs you will see all season, such a lack of discipline - like schoolkids.
“Brennan was standing over the player as if waiting for the referee’s attention and then kicks him so he has no choice. They are running ragged, trying to get back in the game, and then Kyle Jameson gets involved in a scuffle, no choice again.
“You were just praying it would stay at 4-1. It’s one of those games I’m still shaking my head trying to work it out.”
Brennan faces a three-match ban for his red while Jameson will miss the early kick-off at Swindon as part of a one-match suspension, with County already without captain James Clarke. Wing-back Shane McLoughlin was forced off early during the Vale defeat with injury.