Stockport manager Dave Challinor admitted his side got what they deserved as their 12-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at struggling Newport.
A 13th win on the bounce would have broken the record for consecutive victories in the fourth tier set by Luton Town in 2002.
But goals from Bryn Morris and Shane McLoughlin either side of half-time put the home side in charge and Isaac Olaofe’s stoppage-time consolation was too little too late for the League Two leaders.
“It’s disappointing; we got from the game what we deserved to get from the game because we weren’t good enough and we didn’t compete how I’d expect us to compete,” said Challinor.
“Credit to Newport, they deserved to win, but it was no shock. The players knew what to expect, they just didn’t cope with it. Technically we were terrible.”
Challinor rejected the suggestion that his players had been affected by pre-match talk of the record.
“There was no pressure,” he said. “Records are great but, ultimately, they mean nothing.
“If we’d won 15 in a row and not got promoted that record is irrelevant. Who’s bothered? The fans aren’t, I’m not and the players’ aren’t.
“All the 12 wins have done is earn us 36 points. It’s about getting to 90 points as quickly as possible – if we get somewhere near that, we’ve got a chance.”
Challinor felt his side should have had a penalty for a foul on Olaofe at 1-0, but he refused to blame referee Darren Drysdale for the defeat.
“We should have had a penalty – the foul on ‘Tanto’ was a nailed-on penalty,” added the Hatters boss. “If they’re honest about what they’ve seen, we’ll get an apology over that one, but I don’t think we deserved anything from the game.
“It would have given us a lifeline and could have changed the momentum, but we didn’t get the decision and we move on.”
Exiles manager Graham Coughlan was pleased with the three points that lift his side to 16th – seven points clear of the bottom two – and he demanded more of the same from his players.
“I’ve said to the lads, you can see why I get frustrated, annoyed and angry because they are capable of that, it’s just getting that consistency and keeping those standards,” said the Irishman.
“It’s a great victory but, as I said after beating Gillingham and drawing with MK Dons, we want to be a consistent team, not one that delivers twice a month.
“It’s about building and kicking on, let’s not get carried away and too excited about the victory, let’s string a few together and then I might crack a smile.”
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