Pompey's 2015 got off to a bad start after they were beaten at Rodney Parade thanks to a controversial goal which was originally ruled out for offside.
The assistant referee initially flagged for offside as Mark Byrne's attempt sailed into the corner although Aaron O'Connor, standing in an offside position, threw his leg at the ball and even celebrated the goal as if it were his. That's surely interfering with play in anyone's book but referee Michael Bull decided to give the goal as O'Connor never touched it.
That wasn't the only controversial call from Bull as earlier in the match Jed Wallace was brought down in the box and Pompey should have had a penalty by all accounts.
As for the match itself, it was a tight affair until Pompey went a goal down and then they started to really put the pressure on. This has been a characteristic of Awford's team in recent weeks as they have to concede a goal to wake up and start producing what they are capable of.
This is evident in the extended highlights video that Newport have posted on youtube if you wish to view it by clicking here. The penalty incident is at 3:10 and the goal is at 7:05 if you haven't seen the main talking points yet.
The fact that the Newport commentators and fans are wondering how they escaped that match with all three points tells you that Pompey deserved something from the game but when you're "down there" your luck is never in, as the old cliché goes.
And Pompey are "down there" in the league table in 17th place and only five points off the relegation zone. At least there are plenty of positives to take from a defeat for a change, but it's still a defeat and January's fixture list isn't kind with Burton, Southend and Wycombe coming up.
It's going to be a very interesting month with more players rumoured to be coming in and some big games coming up.