Despite the disappointing result, Newport County manager James Rowberry was encouraged by his side's endeavour at Forest Green.
The league leaders secured a 2-0 win in the battle of the promotion chasers at the New Lawn, courtesy of Mat Stevens' brace.
Stevens scored a goal in each half to end County's four-game winning run and, despite hard work, Newport were not able to find a way back into the game in wet and windy conditions in Nailsworth.
"They showed what they can do both with and without the ball. They can mix it up, they can be direct, they can be physical. They're in the position they are for a reason and that's credit to them," Rowberry said at full-time.
"For us to get done over our own throw-in, a counter-attack, is disappointing but that happens, that's one of those things.
"I can't say they particularly opened us up massively - the second goal is a cross into the box and we've got to defend it better, basically.
"What I can say about my players today is that they never gave up and that's one thing that's engrained into this football club: our endeavour and our way of doing things won't stop."
Forest Green's Ebou Adams was named Man of the Match on his return from the Africa Cup of Nations with The Gambia, with Rowberry being satisfied with Scot Bennett and Jake Cain coming up against the impressive midfielder.
"I felt as though at times we matched it, Jake Cain and Scot Bennett were excellent, how they played in that position were superb, we just haven't defended in key moments of the game.
"It was hard because they stifled us really well, the conditions [made it] a difficult game to play in. It was hard to supply the chances we usually do."