NEWPORT County AFC caretaker manager Michael Flynn had no arguments with the referee’s decisions as the Exiles had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to promotion hopefuls Luton Town.

The Hatters led through Danny Hylton’s fifth-minute penalty but Sean Rigg’s spectacular free-kick levelled the match after 28 minutes.

County were reduced to 10 men for the final eight minutes of the match when defender Mark O’Brien was sent off for a second yellow card.

That came moments after Exiles captain Joss Labadie was booked for diving in the Luton penalty area.

And Flynn believes referee Charles Breakspear got all three decisions correct.

“It was a definite penalty, it was a definite sending off and I think Joss dived,” he said.

“I’m convinced he dived so again the referee made a good decision.”

The draw leaves County six points from safety at the bottom of League Two with eight games left to play.

“When we went down to 10 men I'd have bitten your hand off for a point,” added Flynn.

“They're a good team. They've got pace and are strong with good forwards and I was glad Danny Hylton went off at half time.

“We made it hard for ourselves but apart from the first 15 minutes of the second half we were right in the game.”

Luton Town manager Nathan Jones said: “I am disappointed really with the result. We came here, it’s a horrific pitch, it’s a difficult place to come to and get any fluency.

“We picked a side to battle. We got off to a great start. And then we were the victims of our own downfall if I am honest. Not downfall, but we drew the game because we were a bit naïve in the end in a lot of ways and we keep making the same errors. It’s a bit frustrating.

“In the first half we were poor all over. We didn’t win our first headers, we didn’t get on seconds. We didn’t stick to the game plan, we were nowhere near.

“We should have had a penalty just on half-time, it’s a clear-cut penalty, absolutely clear cut. But that’s the only chances we had of any note in the first half.

“Second half we changed things, we were more on the front foot. We had some opportunities and some play, but I think a draw is a fair result and credit to Newport, they battled for their life. We showed plenty of endeavour, but we were naïve tonight, really naïve.”