NEWPORT County AFC had to settle for a point at Rodney Parade last night as Port Vale substitute Anton Forrester cancelled out Matty Dolan's opener with 10 minutes left on the clock. Here's what we learned...

1. County have earned opponents’ respect

Port Vale had won five out of seven matches under new manager Neil Aspin before this one but they came for a point at Rodney Parade and they got it.

County’s 4-0 win at Forest Green Rovers on October 14 made their League Two rivals sit up and take notice and they have drawn two and lost two in the league since then.

Like the Mansfield Town match, this was a game that the Exiles should have won but they were frustrated by opponents who were delighted to leave with a point and Vale won’t be the last visitors to come to Rodney Parade with that attitude this season.

2. Defensive lapses will be punished more often than not

At times this season, Michael Flynn’s men have failed to make the most of the chances they have created but managed to squeak a narrow win.

At the moment they are not quite firing on all cylinders up front and also being punished for mistakes at the back.

And that was the case against Port Vale as the usually reliable Mark O’Brien was drawn to the ball, leaving Anton Forrester with the time and space to fire past Joe Day.

3. Willmott can provide midfield spark 

Robbie Willmott came in for some harsh criticism from some fans before, during and after last week’s FA Cup win over Walsall but Flynn kept faith with him in an attacking central midfield role.

And the utility man repaid that faith with a man-of-the-match display against Port Vale.

Willmott was fully committed in the tackle all night and produced one of the few moments of quality going forward as he burst past two defenders before laying the perfect ball off for Matty Dolan to hammer in the Exiles goal.

4. Friday night lights do not lure in the fans

Apart from the result, the other disappointment was the relatively low attendance as County failed to hit the 3,000 mark for the second match running (ignoring Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy tie, although three home games in a week doesn't help).

Having shifted this fixture to avoid a clash with today’s Wales v Australia rugby international, County were unfortunate to end up clashing with Wales’ football friendly in France – a match that was live on BBC One Wales.

In hindsight a move to 1pm today may have worked better but fans are voting with their feet. Every Saturday 3pm kick-off this season has attracted 3,000+ but the Exiles will have gone six weeks without one between October 21 and December 2.

South Wales Argus:

5. Dolan misses out on a trip to Accrington

Matty Dolan (above right) hit his first goal in County colours with a cool finish but then picked up his fifth booking, meaning he’ll be suspended for next Saturday’s trip to Accrington Stanley.

Flynn will hope that Joss Labadie will return from his hamstring injury to fill the hole in midfield, while Scot Bennett and Tom Owen-Evans offer alternative solutions.

The Exiles boss could also take the opportunity to change formation by recalling Padraig Amond or Sean Rigg, or handing Lamar Reynolds a first league start since the opening day of the season.