NELSON Jardim is confident that his Newport County AFC players will bounce back from another disappointing defeat on the road in League Two.

The Exiles suffered a 2-1 loss at Tranmere to slip to 15th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone.

Rovers hit the front in the 41st minute when Connor Jennings latched onto a hopeful ball over the top and prodded in.

They doubled their advantage after 57 minutes when Kieron Morris scored on the rebound before Kyle Hudlin headed in with seven to go to give County some hope.

However, they failed to snatch a dramatic equaliser and were condemned to a sixth defeat from eight games on the road in League Two, with Kyle Jameson also dismissed for a second yellow card in added time.

The Exiles travel to Reading in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, when qualification for the knockout stages is on the line, and then face a crunch game against Grimsby at Rodney Parade as they bid to get back to winning ways.

FRUSTRATED: County boss Nelson JardimFRUSTRATED: County boss Nelson Jardim (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“We have been in this position a couple of times and shown character and resilience to respond, and that's what we will do,” said head coach Jardim.

“We have tough games coming up but we have shown in this squad enough quality and character to bounce back.”

County finished with just two shots on target but Jardim insisted his side deserved to head back to south Wales with something to show for their efforts.

“We started very well and scored an offside goal,” he said, with Kyle Jameson denied by the flag in the fourth minute.

“After that we had a slight reaction from Tranmere but nothing that created many problems for us and that goal came against the tide.

“I think it was unfair losing at half-time but we reacted and their second goal complicated things for us. We did score a goal and then we had a final push with Hudlin, Courtney Baker-Richardson and Bobby Kamwa.

“I felt a draw would have been a fair result so we are disappointed, but we have to look forward and to the next game. We have to bounce back.”

Jameson will not be suspended for the EFL Trophy game at Reading but must sit out the home fixture with Grimsby in League Two plus the away game at Notts County.

That is because it is the central defender’s second dismissal of the season after seeing red against Port Vale in September.