ACCRINGTON boss James Beattie admitted his disappointment after Newport County’s late equaliser restricted them to a draw.

The Reds led 3-2 when Peter Murphy scored his second of the game two minutes from time, but Lee Minshull levelled for Newport in injury time.

“We’re all disappointed to draw the game,” Beattie said.

“We thought we’d scored the winner but they got a man free in the box and got the equaliser.

“How that’s happened we don’t quite know, that can’t be allowed to happen, everybody knows that.

“It’s disappointing but I can never knock the players for the spirit that they show.

“We got ourselves in front at 2-1 and then conceded, so to get ourselves back in front again and then concede two minutes from the end is a bitter pill to swallow.”

Beattie was pleased with large elements of the performance, but knows they must attempt to eradicate the mistakes in defence.

Stanley have now drawn three successive home games, after matches against York and Southend also ended all square.

“I thought Southend were the best team we’ve played and to get a draw against them was great,” he said. “But Newport were very direct and when we played football we carved them open.

“We scored three goals but we’ve also conceded three so we need to have a look at that.”