Mansfield Town 2-1 Newport County

Newport's Rene Howe

Anthony Howell's goal in the final minute settled a physical clash in favour of struggling Mansfield to deny Newport a hard-earned point.

Matt Rhead's nod down was finished in style by Howell's diving header.

The home side went ahead when goalkeeper Elliot Parish failed to hold on to Ryan Tafazolli's header.

Mansfield goalkeeper Alan Marriott spilled Tom Naylor's free-kick and Rene Howe was on hand to score Newport's equaliser, before Howell's late winner.

The game included seven bookings and it was just a surprise it ended with 22 players on the pitch.

Newport's best chances saw Adam Chapman shoot narrowly wide from 25 yards, with Lee Minshull also firing a 20-yard effort just over the angle.

For the Stags, Howell flicked a header over from five yards as Parish left his line to challenge him.

But Howell's big moment came in the 90th minute and provided the Stags with three crucial points.

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I don't think we played particularly well, I don't think both sides played well.

"There wasn't a lot of quality on show, but it games like that you have to grind them out and pick up the three points.

"It's a massive three points for us and all I'm focusing on is our results and our performances.

"We have some big games in front of us now and we need to make sure we maintain our place in this league."

Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:

"It is very disappointing [conceding a late goal] and we should have dealt with it better.

"For long periods of the second half we dominated and if we don't win the game we certainly make sure we don't lose it.

"Unfortunately we have and that is hugely disappointing and we have to respond because that is not good enough.

"We did enough not to lose the game but the spell after we scored is when we have to be more clinical."