GOALSCORER Steve Brown felt Chippenham Town had lacked desire as they went down to only their second defeat of the campaign at Newport County on Monday.
Brown's third goal of the season came in emphatic fashion on the stroke of half time, but the visitors were under the cosh for much of the evening as Newport ended a run of six games without a win. The long-serving winger was pleased to score, but felt Newport's hunger for the three points had made them worthy winners.
Said Brown: "It is nice to get on the scoresheet, but we didn't really play tonight. The desire wasn't there and Newport punished us. They deserved to win. I think we've played better sides this season, but I think it was one game too many for us. We'd had hardly any break since the weekend.
"We came into the game with a lot of promise and a lot of spirit, but they were under a lot of pressure to win and it showed. They had more desire than us."
Brown felt the Bluebirds had also paid the price for a lack of potency in front of goal and a vulnerability from dead ball situations at the back.
He said: "With the chances we had it could have gone either way. If we'd have gone in front the scoreline might have been different. But they've gone in front and, although we've got one back before the break, their second one killed us just after half time. All three of their goals were similar, from set pieces and corners, and we couldn't deal with them tonight.
"I don't know what it was. We lost Gareth Davies in the first half and he is a tower of strength for us in the air. Shane came on and obviously he is still struggling with injury."
For former Welsh U21 international Davies, Monday was an unhappy return to his homeland.
The skipper limped off with an achilles injury after 38 minutes with Chippenham trailing 1-0, and could only look on in frustration as Newport were twice able to convert simple headers in the second half.
But he was philosophical after the defeat. He said: "Its not the easiest place to come, but if someone had said to us at the start of the season that we would have only lost our second game in our tenth match, then we'd have bitten their hands off.
"A lot of the lads will hold their hands up. They are a bit raw and a bit naive coming into this level of football and you learn from games like this one.
"Newport have some good, experienced payers but, when they come to our place, they'll find it as hard as we did tonight."
Davies' injury makes him a doubt for the long trip to Folkestone Invicta on Saturday. He said: "I think I'm struggling for Saturday. The lad's body weight has come down on my ankle and I'm hoping it is just a basic twist.
"My achilles is very sore, but I'll have treatment for the rest of the week and, if I'm not ready for Saturday, then hopefully I will be for the following week."
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