A THUNDERBOLT from midfielder Graham Carey saw Newport slip to a deserved defeat at Home Park.

Things might be progressing for the Exiles off the field with a Supporters’ Trust takeover imminent, but this was perhaps the most worrying display yet from Terry Butcher’s charges, who were decidedly second best throughout.

Boss Butcher would have been especially pleased to welcome back striker Lenell John-Lewis, whose hold-up play in particular was always likely to be important in a contest where Newport’s ability to break up relentless home attacking was a key feature, as he hopefully puts County’s major injury woes behind him.

The Exiles also preferred Wolves youngster Aaron Hayden to academy prospect Regan Poole, or perhaps boss Butcher is merely waiting until deadline day passes before embracing Poole again, such is the intensity of the interest in him.

However, County might have been more towards full strength than they have been in previous weeks, but you wouldn’t have known it in a first period that was incredibly one-sided, with Argyle significantly unfortunate to go ahead just a goal to the good.

The extra man in midfield for Plymouth was a big difference-maker, County unable to gain control of the ball and get Mark Byrne involved and as a result, it was the hosts perennially pushing and looking for the opening, with Joe Day not just the busier of the goalkeepers, but as busy as any player at Home Park.

He had made several saves of varying quality, before the hosts eventually took the advantage just before the interval.

To say the first half was dominated by Argyle is an understatement, the hosts bombarding Day with a series of efforts while on the counter, the Exiles looked ponderous and on the rare occasions they did get in good positions, they squandered possession far too easily.

It would almost be easier to list the Plymouth players – their goalkeeper, central defenders and midfielder Craig Tanner – who didn’t test Day in a first period where the Exiles had everything bar the kitchen sink thrown at them.

However, five minutes before the interval, the hosts finally made their pressure pay with a goal straight off the training ground, a long throw flicked on to Ryan Brunt who controlled perfectly for Graham Carey who smashed home his fourth of the season.

The Exiles had only mustered very rare moments in response, but Byrne and John-Lewis were both denied from distance by goalkeeper Like McCormick who will rarely have had a more relaxed afternoon.

The Argus understands that boss Terry Butcher delivered the hairdryer treatment to his side at the break in a bid to change the pattern of the game, but the interval made little difference.

Indeed, once County’s best attacking threat, right back Danny Holmes, was removed due to injury, the hosts seemed to be just biding their time before killing the contest.

They might have done so on the hour, but Day saved brilliantly to deny Jervis with his legs before Jervis missed a great opportunity with a free header

There wasn’t enough intensity from the visitors, although the enforced introduction of Josh Laurent at least evened up the battle in midfield, Newport looking more likely playing 4-3-3, but only negligibly.

It was still the hosts doing all the pressing, but as the game entered its final stages, they became a little nervy, perhaps stunned to only be protecting a one goal advantage.

And they nearly paid the price on 83 minutes when sub Collins found John-Lewis unmarked in the penalty area, but he couldn’t generate the power to beat McCormick on the stretch.

Newport had barely tapped on the door in 87 minutes but all of a sudden they were hammering at it and hit the woodwork with their best attempt of the game.

Medy Elito opened up Argyle with his skill and Collins collected, teeing up sub Zak Ansah whose curling effort crashed back off the crossbar, with John-Lewis denied by the goalkeeper with an acrobatic volley from the rebound. McCormick also denied Collins in the first of two minutes added time.

However, between those moments Carey smashed the post with a freekick and Argyle broke several times, only Day proving the difference between a narrow and a large defeat.

It might have finished 1-0, but the Exiles probably got as much as they deserved, or more, over 90 minutes, despite a sloppy finish from the hosts.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-2-3-1): McCormick, Mellor, Sawyer, Nelson, Harley; McHugh, Boateng; Jervis, Carey, Tanner (Wylde 67); Brunt

Subs not used: Cox, Tyler Harvey, Purrington, Rooney, Threlkeld, Cory Harvey

Booked: McHugh

NEWPORT COUNTY: (4-4-2): Day, Holmes (Laurent 60), Barrow, Hayden, Feely; Nana Twumasi, Elito, Byrne, Klukowski (Ansah 80); John-Lewis, Boden (Collins 46)

Subs not used: Taylor, Owen-Evans, Parselle, Poole,

Booked:

Referee: Mr Andy Davies

Attendance: 7811 (293 Newport)