Newport County lacked commitment and quality in attack during their 1-0 defeat by Harrogate Town, according to former Wales defender Kevin Ratcliffe.
Toby Sims capitalised on a mistake from goalkeeper Jacob Carney – who was making his League Two debut for the Exiles in place of Nick Townsend who is away on international duty – to earn the Sulphurites victory with a first-half header.
It was the fifth time Nelson Jardim’s men have suffered defeat on the road in the league this season – with Newport’s only away triumph coming at Morecambe.
Former Everton centre-back Ratcliffe did not feel the Exiles deserved to return to Rodney Parade with three points given their performance against Simon Weaver’s outfit.
“I didn’t think it was a great performance from either side, but Harrogate have taken their opportunity,” he told BBC Radio Wales.
“Newport never really created many opportunities, they’re going to be disappointed, but they didn’t deserve to win the game. At most they could have got a draw.
“There wasn’t enough there from Newport, they lacked commitment going forward, they lacked quality going forward. The two full-backs being injured are a big miss, it was clear to see.”