Joey Barton admits Bristol Rovers' performance at Newport County was not good enough as the Gas slipped to their first defeat in six games.
James Waite scored the game's only goal, rifling beyond James Belshaw from 20 yards on 33 minutes. Rovers were unable to get into top gear and huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser. Luca Hoole came the closest to rescuing a point but his powerful header was met by a fine save by Nick Townsend in stoppage time.
The defeat – just the second in League Two of 2022 – left Rovers in ninth place, four points adrift of the play-off places with 12 games to play. Barton accepts his players fell short of the high standards they have set in recent weeks.
