Hayden Mullins admitted Newport County were “running on empty” when Salford scored a last-minute winner.
The Exiles looked set for a surprise victory against an Ammies side that made the 2025-26 League Two play-offs when Harrison Biggins scored a remarkable opener in the 71st minute.
But Salford hit back to claim a first win of the season thanks to Taylor Allen’s equaliser and a last-minute goal by Kelly N’Mai.
“Conceding in the 90th minute is always tough,” said Mullins, whose side earned a home draw with Tranmere by scoring in the closing stages last weekend.
“The boys were running on empty in the end. We put in such a shift.”
Salford’s late show meant that for the second successive season Newport got no reward for a goal from their own half.
On-loan Sammy Braybrooke scored from distance at Colchester last December while Biggins struck from even further out.
The midfielder intercepted the ball on the edge of his box and then lobbed goalkeeper Will Norris from 70 yards.
“It was absolutely fantastic, he’s been threatening that for a couple of weeks now,” said Mullins.
“We know he’s got that in his armoury and he put in a really good battling performance for us as well. He puts a lot of running in for the team and really grafts.
“He deserved that, it’s just a shame we couldn’t top the evening off with a result.”
Newport travel to Northampton, who are yet to win this season, on Saturday, 5 September (15:00 BST).
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