NEWPORT County midfielder Kevin Cooper has slammed the standards of refereeing in the Blue Square South after his red card at Basingstoke.

Cooper, preparing to face Hayes & Yeading at Spytty Park this afternoon, was at the centre of controversy last week when he was sent off after harshly being adjudged to have brought down his opposite number Tom Hateley as he headed for goal.

“I’m not 100% sure what happened to be honest,” said the former Cardiff City star.

“I’m told by people who saw it on video afterwards that I took the ball, but I had a split-second decision to make and I thought I had a chance of getting it but I was surprised to be sent off because I thought there was another man covering anyway.

“The standard of the officials, the assistants as well, is not great at this level,” he added.

Despite playing nearly an hour with only 10 men and the last five with only nine, County earned a draw at Basingstoke and Cooper believes that with a bit more luck the team will begin to move up the table sooner rather than later.

“The spirit was great last week but that has never been the problem,” he explained.

“There is great togetherness among the players and I think in the last three games we have done enough to win. We just need that little break to start turning draws into wins.”

From a personal point of view the 33-year-old believes he is starting to show some form but claims the best is yet to come. “It’s been a learning curve because I didn’t know what to expect of this level,” he admitted.

“Having played in the league people expect a lot from me, and rightly so. I’ve not been anywhere near my best.

“But I’m starting to feel myself again in terms of energy levels and I believe there is a lot more to come.”