Johnnie Jackson admitted his AFC Wimbledon players felt the effects of their energy-sapping Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea as they let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Newport.
James Tilley, who put the Dons ahead from the penalty spot at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday before the Premier League side recovered to win 2-1, added his sixth and seventh goals of the season to put Jackson’s men 2-0 up inside half an hour in the south Wales sun.
The former Crawley forward pinged his first in off the post from the edge of the area after nine minutes before doubling the Dons’ advantage with another piledriver from distance on 30 minutes.
But County’s top scorer Will Evans gave his side a lifeline with his eighth of the campaign in all competitions in first-half stoppage time.
And Omar Bogle bagged his first of the season on his first start in the league to level the match 10 minutes into the second half.
Tilley went closest to winning it in the closing stages but he was denied a hat-trick when Exiles goalkeeper Nick Townsend stuck out a hand to keep out his bullet header and earn his side a point.
“Obviously, to get ourselves in that situation in the game, we’re slightly disappointed,” said Jackson.
“But, on the balance of it, after the week we’ve had, I think it is a good point.
“We got two really good goals from Tills, and I’m a bit disappointed with the ones we conceded.
“For 35 minutes I thought we were outstanding, then you saw – mentally and physically – what Wednesday would have taken out of the team.
“But we rallied, which was pleasing. When they got level, their fans are expecting them to go on and win. But their keeper made the best save of the day from Tilley’s header.”
County manager Graham Coughlan felt his side were also paying the price for a gruelling penalty shoot-out loss to Brentford on Tuesday night.
“It was a really tough afternoon and I’ve got to take my hat off to Wimbledon as well,” said the Irishman.
“You could see that the four goals were down to the midweek exertions of two teams that went toe-to-toe with Premier League sides, then chuck a red-hot day on top as well.
“You could probably see the fatigue factor, the mental and physical tiredness that set into the players.
“Fair play to the two sets of players for what they produced off the back of a tough week that was draining and tiring.
“You could see on the hour mark that the energy levels just weren’t there, but I am proud of the lads.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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