Cook backs County to turn things around

Newport County have been told they will have “no problems” turning around their form – by the manager that inflicted a third straight league defeat on the Exiles.

County suffered in front of their own fans on Friday night as they went down 3-0 to Chesterfield at Rodney Parade.

The result saw supporters boo at the full-time whistle as Nelson Jardim’s side made it three losses in a row following defeats at Bradford and Harrogate.

But Chesterfield boss Paul Cook says he has sympathy for Jardim’s side after the game was won through a 42-second defensive shocker and two late goals.

“Newport are going through one of those spells, unfortunately for them, where when things go wrong they go wrong. We’ve all been there,” Cook told Chesterfield’s club media.

“They started so aggressively on the front foot and they continued that for the full game, it was never ever a 3-0 scoreline and Newport will feel really hard done by.

“It looks like it’s been a convincing win and it was never that; Newport were excellent for long periods and the goals late on took the game away from them.

“We were up against it for long periods. If they play like that they’ll have no problems winning football games.”

Newport face Gillingham on Tuesday and Jardim will be hoping for a little more luck next time out.

The Portuguese was among those at Rodney Parade who believed Kyle Hudlin’s cross was carried over his own line by Spireites goalkeeper Max Thompson with the score still at 1-0.

But Chesterfield assistant boss Danny Webb said: “Whether the ball crossed the line or not, I couldn’t give a monkey’s. You can’t moan about that; referees have a difficult job, and things should even themselves out over the season.”