JODY Morris made a losing start to life as Swindon Town head coach following a 2-1 defeat away at Newport County on Saturday.

Aiming to rack up three points in his debut game, the new Town boss’ task was made all the more difficult in the 15th minute when Rushian Hepburn-Murphy was sent off for lashing out.

Despite making it to half-time all square still, Town were two goals behind late in the second half after Cameron Norman and substitute Calum Kavanagh both netted.

Tomi Adeloye bagged his first Swindon goal in the dying moments, but it was not enough to help rescue a draw.

Morris’ first team selection featured three changes from the side which drew 3-3 with Gillingham last weekend. Luke Jephcott dropped to the bench, Marcel Lavinier missed out through injury, and Saidou Khan was suspended after his red card.

Midfielder Dylan Kadji made his debut on loan from Bristol City, former Newport loanee Jake Cain came in for his first start, and Hepburn-Murphy returned to the starting XI.

Meanwhile, County fielded two debutants themselves and opted for a change in goal. Nick Townsend was handed his first League Two start since facing Swindon at the County Ground back in October.

Newport produced the first chance of the afternoon as Priestly Farquharson headed straight at Sol Brynn from a deep right-flank cross in the second minute.

Up the other end, following an unsuccessful penalty appeal, Swindon went close when Hepburn-Murphy ran at and then past two County defenders. Charlie Austin collected the rebound after a blocked shot, but his close-range effort was turned out for a corner.

That sparkling run was Hepburn-Murphy’s only positive contribution as he received his marching orders for a rash decision in the 15th minute. Following a foul by the winger on the near touchline and a coming together of players, Hepburn-Murphy saw red – both figuratively and then literally – after stupidly throwing his arms into the chest of Norman.

Newport attempted to make the most of their man advantage before half-time, but Brynn made a couple of simple saves and Ciaran Brennan provided a goal-saving block from Harry Charsley.

Shortly before the break, Swindon almost took an unlikely lead when a long punt forward was hacked up in the air by Mickey Demetriou and Jacob Wakeling set about after the bouncing ball. Farquharson and Townsend collided in the air, but the loose ball bounced wide of the goal instead of into an unguarded net.

Having not offered anything in terms of attacking threat in the early parts of the second half, Swindon went behind in the 54th minute. Adam Lewis’ inch-perfect cross from left-back was powered home by unmarked opposite number Norman at the back post.

Frazer Blake-Tracy – in his first permanent start for the club – drove through the heart of the Newport midfield with 25 minutes to play looking for an opening, but his pass to Hutton resulted in an over-hit cross and more disappointment for Morris’ men.

The right-back then tried to make up for it with a much more inviting cross shortly after, but left-back Ellis Iandolo – who was the furthest Town player forward – was unable to reach the delivery.

Following a well-struck half-volley by substitute Nathan Moriah-Welsh that was saved comfortably by Brynn, the substitute midfielder wasted very little time in putting his team 2-0 up via a different method.

Moriah-Welsh slipped a through ball into the path of Aaron Lewis, which was missed by Brennan, and the midfielder - who was excellent throughout - squared into the path of substitute Kavanagh for him to run the ball into the net.

Town produced their first shot on target of the game in the 86th minute after Blake-Tracy charged down the left before crossing low into the middle for substitute Luke Jephcott to collect. The Plymouth Argyle loanee turned onto his right and struck goalwards, but a deflection on the way through took the sting out of the shot and Townsend was able to collect down to his right.

As six minutes of added time was shown, Swindon pulled a goal back via Adeloye’s first goal for the club. Iandolo’s cross from the left was controlled by the striker’s first touch, and with his second, Adeloye placed into the bottom right corner.

The visitors were unable to create another chance in the remaining moments, and Morris kicked off his spell as boss with defeat.

NCFC starting XI: Townsend, Clarke, Farquharson, Demetriou (c), Norman, Adam Lewis, Aaron Lewis, Bennett, Charsley, McNeill, Zanzala.

NCFC substitutes: Day, Baker, Moriah-Welsh, Waite, Kavanagh, Bogle, Evans.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, Brennan, Blake-Tracy, Iandolo, Cain, Kadji, Williams, Hepburn-Murphy, Wakeling, Austin.

STFC substitutes: Copland, Clayton, Adeloye, Darcy, Jephcott, Aguiar, Minturn.

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: N/A