NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn was frustrated by his team’s defensive lapses and attacking profligacy as they went down to a 4-2 defeat at Grimsby Town.

County were 1-0 down after just 49 seconds but they levelled through Jordan Green before trailing 2-1 at the break.

Grimsby added a third when the Exiles were on top and, even though substitute Padraig Amond pulled another one back with his 50th goal for the club, they were punished on the break again as the Mariners wrapped up the points with six minutes left on the clock.

“It’s disappointing,” said Flynn. “After the first 50 seconds, we were already chasing the game.

“We did well to get back into it and we should have taken the lead but then their player hits a great free-kick and we were chasing the game again.

“We left ourselves a little bit open and they score the third, we get back into it then miss a couple more chances and then the fourth one goes in when we were all out trying to get the equaliser and we left ourselves wide open."

South Wales Argus:

Grimsby striker James Hanson could have been sent off in the first half for an elbow on County defender Ryan Inniss and he went on to score the home team’s third goal.

“The fact of the matter is we’ve conceded four goals and I’m not happy with that so I’m not making excuses,” said Flynn.

“He didn’t get sent off. I don’t know whether he should have been, all I do know is that Ryan Inniss has probably got a broken nose.

“But we created enough chances, especially away from home.

“If we’d scored four away from home, the bad thing about it is that we still wouldn’t have won the game.

“That’s how disappointing it is. We created a lot of chances but we were too wide open and the goals we conceded weren’t good enough from our point of view.

“It’s frustrating because it’s uncharacteristic of us this season. Let’s hope it’s a one off.”

County drop to 16th in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Oldham Athletic.

Read more: Grimsby Town 4 Newport County 2 - match report from Blundell Park