Rochdale 1-1 Newport County: Adam Lewis free-kick earns Exiles draw

Newport County came from a goal down to earn a point at struggling Rochdale in League Two.

Devante Rodney put the hosts ahead, finding the bottom corner from 20 yards after neat build-up play.

Newport equalised less than a minute into the second half as Adam Lewis' deep free-kick missed everyone before going in at the far post.

Rochdale thought they had won it late on, but Ian Henderson's header was ruled out for offside.

Newport County assistant manager Joe Dunne said: "It's important when you play the teams below you that you keep them there, whether you win or you keep the points distance at a gap and that's the key thing.

"Of course we'd prefer to win them but the important thing is to keep the gap."

The draw came a day after Newport manager Graham Coughlan was charged by the Football Association for improper behaviour against Crawley this week.

Coughlan has until Tuesday to provide a response.

On Coughlan's absence from post-match media duties, Dunne said: "Graham's not here because he doesn't want to say anything that would jeopardise anything (regarding the FA charge) and today there's a few decisions we felt really disappointed with - we felt we should have had a penalty as well."

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