NELSON Jardim is confident that Newport County AFC will avoid a League Two relegation scrap despite his anger at a wasteful streak that led to a 2-1 defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons climbed to second in the table thanks to the success at Rodney Parade while the Exiles are looking nervously down, sitting 18th and with a six-point gap to the drop zone.

They bossed the first half in Newport but failed to take their chances and then got hit by a goal soon after the restart by Josh Kelly and then a clincher by Romaine Sawyers.

Oliver Greaves gave some hope with a deflected goal in added time but the Dons held on.

County must now lick their wounds with a rapid turnaround to a Sunday clash with 23rd-placed Morecambe at Rodney Parade.

"In the first half it was clear to everyone that the way we played was exciting - we created corners, free-kicks, goal-scoring chances,” said head coach Jardim.

“It was disappointing that we didn’t score two or three goals, that score wouldn’t have been unfair.

“Even in the second half we tried to play the better football but on a free-kick that we would normally try to play [on the floor], from a bad delivery they scored on the counter.

FRUSTRATED: County head coach Nelson Jardim (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“When you are on the back foot everything is tough and they had the comfort of the goal, and we didn’t manage to score with time enough to get something out of this game.

“Go back to Walsall, this wasn’t much different although we created more goalscoring chances tonight.”

Wins for Morecambe, Accrington and Swindon added to County’s fears of getting dragged into a dogfight in the second half of the campaign.

However, Jardim believes his inexperienced squad have enough in them to stretch away from the battle at the basement.

“We are halfway through the season and have 26 points, so do exactly the same and we would have 52 [and be safe] but I am sure we will be better and improve,” said the head coach.

“These games where have been dominant, have created chances but haven’t scored, I am sure we will start winning.

“I made them know my feelings that I am disappointed [at not taking chances] and that they have to be better.

“As a coach I have to look to the performance, we lost but we have to look at how and it's clear that if we keep going like that, and improve little things, we will be closer to wins than defeats.”

More tomorrow on County’s transfer plans…