Newport County 2-3 Dagenham & Redbridge

Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Mark Cousins was in good form against Newport

Newport County's League Two play-off hopes were given another blow as they were beaten by Dagenham & Redbridge.

Playing their first match since sacking jailed striker Chris Zebroski, Newport were in command but failed to score.

That proved costly when Ashley Hemmings headed the visitors in front with 12 minutes left, before Christian Doidge and Alex Jakubiak sealed victory.

David Tutonda and Aaron O'Connor struck late for Newport, who are three points behind seventh-placed Plymouth.

Having lost their last three matches, Newport manager Jimmy Dack had said prior to this game they needed to win their remaining three fixtures to stand any chance of reclaiming their place in the top seven.

County dominated possession in the first half and created a handful of chances, the best of which fell to Yan Klukowski, whose neat left-footed volley from a Ryan Jackson cross flashed narrowly wide.

The hosts continued to press after the break, and O'Connor was denied as his close-range effort was brilliantly pushed on to the crossbar by Mark Cousins.

Dagenham's goalkeeper made another spectacular save to tip over Regan Poole's volley after an hour, before the visitors turned the game on its head.

With 12 minutes remaining, Andre Boucard's curling free-kick was headed in by Hemmings to put mid-table Dagenham in front against the run of play.

They doubled their lead just two minutes later as Doidge fired in from close range, and Newport's fate was sealed soon afterwards when Jakubiak slotted in a third.

Tutonda's mazy run and neat finish - followed by O'Connor's close-range effort - narrowed County's deficit in the closing stages, but a fourth successive defeat leaves their promotion hopes hanging by a thread.

Dagenham & Redbridge first team coach Warren Hackett told BBC London 94.9:

"I'd say it was a very good win, we came under pressure in the first 20 minutes of the first half and the boys did well to be resilient and not concede.

"A little bit disappointed to have conceded the two goals at the end of the game, our game management could have been better but ultimately I'm happy.

"The goals we conceded takes the gloss off a fantastic away win but we're pleased to be going away with three points."