Newport County's loss of central defender Andrew Thomas through injury adds to manager Peter Nicholas' mounting worries.

Thomas was carried off at Manor Park in the Dr Martens League, Premier Division, defeat by high-flying Nuneaton Borough after nine minutes, following a challenge by Matthew Collins.

County manager Peter Nicholas was not impressed - and said: "It was a bad tackle and losing Andrew upset us a little bit."

Thomas joins striker Neil Davis and midfield player Nathan Davies out of the running for a place in the team at Moor Green - a game County really must win after the defeat leaves them seven games without success and precious few goals.

Davis could be out for two or three weeks and Thomas is facing a similar amount of time out of the side.

The back four was reshuffled to accommodate Steve Williams at full back, with Terry Evans moving from the right alongside Jeff Eckhardt, who performed heroics at the heart of an overworked defence.

Five minutes after Thomas' departure with ankle ligament damage, County found themselves in familiar territory - a goal down.

The best County could have hoped for against a side looking for a swift Conference return was a draw, and there was always hope, because Nuneaton, keeping another home clean sheet, couldn't finish off their visitors until the final minute.

The unmarked Stuart Fitz-patrick headed Nuneaton ahead from a short-chipped left cross by central defender Terry Angus, after Eckhardt rescued his side by clearing Andy Corbet's goal-bound shot.

But not even the most optimistic of County fans could visualise an equaliser. County packed their midfield to try to choke Nuneaton. To a very large extent the plan worked - but conceding an early goal was not in the game plan.

Newcomer Andrew Mumford, on loan from Swansea City, had a satisfactory debut in midfield, but he does lack match practice, and Nicholas not only intends to play him at Moor Green, but also in a reserve match the following day against Swindon Supermarine in the newly formed Severnside League.

Gareth Wesson made an excellent one-handed save from Fitzpatrick as half-time approached, and on the stroke of half-time County watched in admiration as he brought the ball under control, turned and thumped a shot against the crossbar. Wesson could hardly believe his defence were in such a generous mood.

Mark Dickeson ran himself into the ground as a lone front-runner, and finally made way for Gareth Phillips 12 minutes from the end. Raith Plant was also introduced as Nicholas changed tactics. Newport had as much of the possession, but still created nothing to trouble Darren Acton in Nuneaton's goal.

And in the final minute Nuneaton struck again through substitute Mark Clifford, giving them eight goals in their last three home games - none conceded - and their fifth clean sheet in seven games.

Nuneaton Borough (4-4-2): Hoyle (Tullin, 89 minutes), Moore, Angus, Love; Fitzpatrick, Collins, McGorry, Whittaker (Clifford, 70); Murphy (Lamb, 78), Corbet. Substitutes (not used): White. Bookings: None. Goals: Gary Fitzpatrick (14 minutes), Mark Clifford (87 minutes).

Newport County (4-5-1) Wesson; Evans, Thomas (Williams, nine minutes), Eckhardt, Lloyd; Shephard, Phillips, Mumford, Rose, Rogers (Plant, 66); Dickeson (Phillips, 78). Substitutes (not used): Palmer, Mountain. Referee: John Farries (Fewcott, Oxfordshire). Bookings: None Attendance: 1,097.