NEWPORT County manager Dean Holdsworth paid tribute to his team’s “fantastic team spirit” after a difficult day at Basingstoke.

The Exiles were reduced to nine men, with Kevin Cooper dismissed on 37 minutes for denying a goal-scoring opportunity and Martyn Giles picking up a second yellow card late on.

They battled to a deserved point but, happy as he was with his side, Holdsworth couldn’t hide his frustration with young referee Antony Coggins.

“I thought they were all fantastic, I’m not going to single anyone out,” he said.

“The team spirit that we’ve got in that dressing-room has seen us through the game.

“Even with 10 men I still fancied us but with nine it’s a little bit difficult!

“The referee spoiled the game. Cooper shouldn’t have been sent off because Martyn Giles was covering and we should have had a penalty.”

Coggins denied County two possible spot kicks in the first five minutes, the second when a home defender appeared to handle the ball in the box.

“We had one given against us at Dorchester where it hit the hand from two yards and this one travelled 10 yards,” added Holdsworth.

“But I don’t want to go on about officials. I don’t want to let him spoil our fantastic team spirit.

“I’m very proud of them, they deserved something out of the game. Over the 90 minutes things happen and we had to settle for a point. Our shape was good and I don’t think they threatened us.

“I said at half-time, ‘Don’t let the referee spoil your chances of winning this game,’ and we didn’t, so I’m pleased.

“Our backs have been against the wall a bit lately but we have a great bond in this team and we are three undefeated in the league with two clean sheets in a row so we’re putting together a little run and we can look forward to next week with confidence now.”

The draw saw County slip to 18th in the Blue Square South with fifth-placed Hayes & Yeading the visitors to Spytty Park on Saturday.