Newport 1 -0 Crewe
Amond (32)
MOM: Ng
Attendance: 3243 (253)
Crewe were brought back down to earth with a disappointing 1-0 reverse at Newport this afternoon. A first half goal from Padraig Amond was enough to consign David Artell’s men to their first defeat of the season on a wet afternoon at Rodney Parade. The Alex rarely threatened but had hit the post through Harry Pickering before Paul Green saw his second half penalty saved by Exiles ‘keeper Joe Day.
The Match
In team news, skipper George Ray was deemed unfit so Nicky Hunt made his first start for the club at right back with Perry Ng moving centrally alongside Eddie Nolan.
Newport looked the brighter of the two sides in the early exchanges and Crewe struggled to keep the ball under some high pressing from the home side’s 3-5-2 system. Forward Amond was a constant thorn in the visitors side and he had a shot parried by Dave Richards in only 4th minute from a Dan Butler cross.
Butler was to enjoy the freedom of the left wing for much of the first half and another of his crosses that was met by Amond also called Richards into action. Crewe clearly hadn’t learnt their lesson and fell behind on 32 minutes when the pair linked up again. Butler marauded past several Alex players before whipping in an excellent ball which was turned home by Amond for his 1st of the season.
The Newport left backs crosses were in stark contrast to the balls being played into the opposition box. Charlie Kirk was the guilty party on several occasions, wasting several promising positions with over hit passes.
Crewe were to threaten Day’s goal just after the half-hour mark when a brilliant Pickering free-kick struck the post. Ultimately, that was as good as it was to get for Artell’s men in a wet and largely uninspiring first half, which bore little semblance to last weeks’ 6-0 bruising of Morecambe.
The Alex made no changes at half time and were fortunate not to be 2-0 down after Newport twice came close to breaching Richards’ goal shortly after the restart. Kirk was soon to be replaced by Ainley as Artell looked to add some creativity in the final third.
Crewe did begin to see more of the ball and after some neat passes James Jones was brought down just inside the area after the hour mark. Paul Green, who scored from the spot against Lincoln back in February, stepped up and saw his tame effort saved low to Joe Day’s right.
It was to be Crewe’s best chance of the afternoon and their only shot on target in what was described by Artell as a ‘toothless’ display. Despite seeing more of the ball in the second half, The Alex were unable to break down a resilient Newport side who had lost just four times at home last season.
Although still in the embryonic stages of the new season, it is a deeply disappointing result for Artell’s men if they are looking to challenge for promotion this campaign. Newport operate on a much smaller budget than The Alex and will be unlikely to replicate their 11th place finish last term.
Next up for The Railwaymen is Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town at Gresty Road on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup.
Ratings
Richards (7) Made several good saves and could do nothing about the goal.
Hunt (4) Failed to stop a number of crosses in the first half and lost the ball numberous times.
Ng (8) Hardly put a foot wrong all game and distributed the ball well.
Nolan (7) Steady Eddie.
Pickering (6) Unlucky to hit the post with his first half free-kick. Crossing was poor
Jones (7) Won the penalty and looked Crewe’s best threat going forward. Often looked to come in centrally.
Green (5) Hard to see past his tame penalty. Overran in midfield with Wintle at times.
Wintle (6) Unusually subdued.
Kirk (subbed 55 mins) (5) Overhit his crosses and strruggled to make an impact.
Bowery (6) Had no service but held the ball up well and looked lively.
Nicholls (4) Largely anoymous.
(Ainley sub 54 mins) (5) Failed to have any impact.
Crewe Alexandra 