Newport County make the trip to West Sussex on Saturday afternoon (3pm) to take on Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium in their second Sky Bet League Two fixture of the 2025-26 campaign. Take a look at our match preview brought to you by Configur.
The Exiles will be aiming to build on their unbeaten start to the season, having earned hard-fought draws against strong opposition in Barnet and Notts County.
Opposition Focus
Crawley Town head into Saturday’s clash still searching for their first points of the new campaign after a tough 3-0 defeat away to Grimsby Town on the opening day. That result leaves the Red Devils bottom of the early Sky Bet League Two standings, adding an extra layer of pressure to their first home outing of the season.
This year marks a significant period of transition for Crawley, who suffered relegation from League One on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign. The drop in division inevitably led to the departure of several key players, with the likes of Kamari Doyle, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, and Jeremy Kelly among those to move on over the summer. As a result, manager Scott Lindsey has had to rebuild his squad, blending new signings with remaining experienced heads in the hope of mounting a competitive challenge in the fourth tier.
Despite the disappointment of relegation, Crawley finished last season in encouraging form, winning three and drawing one of their final four league fixtures. That run offered a glimpse of the resilience and quality the side can produce when at their best. The challenge now will be to recapture that momentum in League Two.
Head-to-Head
The first-ever meeting between the two clubs came in the National League — then known as the Blue Square Premier — where Newport County claimed a 3-2 victory at the Broadfield Stadium. The sides have faced each other 20 times in all competitions, with Crawley Town winning nine, Newport County taking six victories, and five matches ending in draws.
In recent years, the Red Devils have enjoyed the upper hand in this fixture, with the Exiles failing to register a win since 2021. That last triumph for County was a memorable 2-0 victory, which saw returning summer signing Liam Shephard get on the scoresheet and deliver a Player of the Match performance.
Memorable Encounter
The Exiles and the Red Devils have shared plenty of notable encounters over the years, but one that stands out came during the 2022-23 season — a dramatic 2-2 draw at Rodney Parade. Crawley raced into a 2-0 lead, with former Newport striker Dom Telford opening the scoring in the first half before doubling his tally from the penalty spot after Scott Bennett was adjudged to have fouled inside the area. Telford calmly slotted the spot-kick into the bottom-left corner to claim his brace.
With time running out, Newport turned to their bench for inspiration, and club legend Matthew Dolan delivered, pulling a goal back in the 83rd minute to spark a late surge. The drama didn’t end there, as in the second minute of stoppage time, Offrande Zanzala rose highest to meet an Aaron Lewis corner, powering home a header to complete a stunning comeback.
The late equaliser not only earned Newport a point but also piled further pressure on Crawley Town, who at the time were embroiled in a tense battle to avoid relegation. It was a game that perfectly encapsulated the competitive edge and unpredictable nature of this fixture.
Shared Shirts
Striker Jamie Proctor first joined Crawley Town from Preston North End in January 2013, going on to make 49 appearances for the Red Devils and finding the net 13 times. After spells with various EFL clubs, Proctor later signed for Newport County on loan from Rotherham United. His time in South Wales was brief, featuring just 10 times in black and amber and scoring a single goal.
Another familiar face is Harry McKirdy, who spent the second half of the 2018-19 season on loan with Newport County from Aston Villa. Used mainly as an impact substitute, McKirdy made 11 appearances from the bench and just two starts. The lively forward joined Crawley Town this summer and will no doubt be eager to make an impression against his former club.
Midfielder Mark Randall, a graduate of Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy, featured 25 times for Newport during the 2016-17 season, playing an important part in Michael Flynn’s first campaign as manager as the club battled to avoid relegation. Randall moved to Crawley after his stint with the Exiles, making 38 appearances before leaving the Broadfield Stadium in February 2019 by mutual consent.
And more recently Dom Telford is another who has represented both clubs. Telford netted an impressive 26 goals in 52 appearances for County, before he made the switch to Crawley Town in 2022, playing 47 times and scoring 12 goals.
Key Facts
- Last season Crawley Town had the worst defensive record in League One, conceding 83 goals in 46 games.
- The Exiles have score three goals in their last two games.
- Crawley Town scored six goals in their last two home games last season in 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Exeter City and Northampton Town, respectively.