Newport County look nervously down in League Two after failing to capitalize on their dominance in the first half following a 2-1 defeat at promotion-chasing Wimbledon.
The 18th-placed Exiles will be left heartbroken after scoring two second-half goals from Josh Kelly and Romaine Sawyers in a cold Rodney Parade encounter.
Oliver Greaves’ poor goal caused tension in stoppage time but there was no more drama, meaning a third defeat added to the gloom.
The strugglers’ victories on New Year’s Day, the departure of influential midfielder Bryn Morris to Harrogate, rumors of further exits and then captain Shane McLoughlin limping off at the death, heightened fears of possible relegation.
It means three points are desperately needed when Morecambe, 23rd in the standings, visit Newport on Sunday.
Forget performance or style.
County had the better of the first half against leaders Walsall on Sunday without creating a clear-cut chance but that was a different story against the Dons.
Denied: Bobby Kamua curled a ball narrowly wide for County (Photo: Kian Abdullah/Hugh Evans Agency)
They came close to scoring on several occasions – Michael Spielman three times, Bobby Kamua and Kai Whitmore – but were frustrated when they reached the break level at 0-0.
County were grateful for a brilliant stop by Jacob Carney, who was replacing the injured Nick Townsend, at the end of the first half to prevent the Dons from stealing the lead.
However, the promotion hopefuls went ahead three minutes into the second half thanks to a brilliant touch from Kelly on the break.
The Dons looked calmer and smarter after the break and sealed the spoils in the 77th minute when Sawyers side-footed a shot from the edge of the area.
Substitute Greaves scored a deflected goal in the 92nd minute but County paid the price for their inability to keep their footing in the face of promotion-chasing rivals who had thrived on tinkering at half-time.
This means that Sunday is now a day that Nelson Jardim’s side should win, and certainly not lose.
County made two changes to the side that lost to Walsall, and three changes to the side that beat Milton Keynes Dons.
Goalkeeper Nick Townsend was out with injury, although his absence sparked speculation about the strongman following Morris’ exit, with Carney starting and new signing Lewis Webb as cover for him.
Kyle Hudlin starts in attack after extending his loan from Huddersfield until the end of the season with Luke Jeffcoat dropped to the bench.
The change from the other Dons encounter was Whitmore replacing Morris following his move to Harrogate.
County had their first chance in the 10th minute when Spielman, starting on the right, unleashed a powerful left-foot shot that was cleared by Owen Goodman.
Then, after missing a counter-attack chance from a Dons corner, there was a repeat with the keeper this time diving to his left to get past the winger.
The Exiles went close for a third time in the space of 15 minutes with another break that saw Camoa, having slipped in to make up his mind for Hudlin, go inside and fire a shot wide.
It was a very bright start by the home side, with Whitmore forcing the Wimbledon defense to defend aggressively when the ball fell his way from a corner, and Hudlin then shot wide after a lucky rebound inside the box.
There was another half-second chance in the 26th minute after Goodman’s botched clearance but Spielman was unable to seriously test the keeper from distance as he dropped back into his own goal, although he still suffered a slight stumble.
The Exiles needed to capitalize on their dominance and another chance came begging in the 35th minute when the lively Whitmore tricked his way to the sideline but no one was on hand to fire his headed shot across the face of goal.
All that good work was almost undone in the 37th minute when County were pickpocketed in their own half but fortunately Carney blocked Josh Kelly’s shot comfortably, and then the pattern resumed.
Goodman got down well to his left twice to make powerful saves from the edge of the box by Whitmore and Spielman as the home side chased the elusive opener. It was one-way traffic but the Exiles were in debt to their goalkeeper immediately after the board’s signal. One minute of time to be added.
Matty Stevens had a shot destined for the top right corner but Carney raised his right hand to cut in a huge confidence boost for the Premier League rookie.
However, he was getting the ball out of his own net just three minutes into the second half when Kelly beat Kieron Evans, raced wide and then scored a sweeping goal.
Jardim made a substitution in the 6th minute to equalize as Jephcott came on for Hudlin, who had endured a frustrating evening against one of his previous loan clubs.
McLoughlin narrowly fired wide from long range with 20 minutes to go (although Goodman may have covered it), and then County midfielder Ciaran Brennan made a good save as Stevens sniffed a goal to seal the win.
Two more throws of the dice came in the 76th minute with the introduction of Oliver Greaves and Jamie Miley, but instead it was the deciding point.
Kelly timed his run well to cut the ball from the right side and sent a cross, and Sawyers – who showed his composure after coming on the break – finished the ball calmly.
Greaves gave some hope but unlike at Wimbledon at the start of December, there was no late drama to make it 2-2.
There should be a big reaction to Sunday’s disappointment.
province: Carney, McLoughlin (captain, Jameson 90), Brennan, Baker, Glennon, K Evans, Antwi, Spelman (Graves 76), Whitmore (Miley 76), Kamua, Hodlin (Gibcott 60).
Subs who did not participate: Webb, Clarke, Jameson, Kargbo.
Target: Graves.
Asian Wimbledon Championship top scorers: Kelly, Sawyers.
Referee: Will Feeney.
Attendance: 4,485 (358 Wimbledon).