Newport County return to Sky Bet League Two action as they travel to promotion-chasing Crewe Alexandra tomorrow afternoon (3pm).
The Exiles will be looking to secure their third consecutive win and could stretch their unbeaten to four games.
After a win earlier in the season against the Railwaymen, County could also record their first league double over Crewe Alexandra since the 1971-72 season.
Pre-match views
Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Mornflake Stadium, Nelson Jardim said: “It’s always a tough match and a tough place to go. But we have to stay positive and focus on ourselves, as we always do.
“We know we’ll be facing a team that’s in good form. Defensively, they’re one of the best in the league, if not the best. So we know what we’ll be up against, but we also know what we can do.
“That’s a real plus for us – when you know your own team, you know your capabilities. And we’re very positive about that.”
Opposition Form
Crewe Alexandra have had an impressive season and currently sit in 5th place, just two points off the automatic promotion spots.
Known for their solid defensive record, the Railwaymen boast the second-best defence in the league, having conceded just 25 goals (with only AFC Wimbledon conceding fewer, 20). Micky Demetriou, a former Newport County defender, has been central to their resilient backline.
However, Crewe have been experiencing a dip in form, going winless in their last three matches, including a 1-0 loss to struggling Accrington Stanley and a 1-1 draw against Harrogate Town.
One of Crewe's standout players this season has been Jack Lankester. The attacking midfielder, who joined from Cambridge United in the summer, has scored seven goals and provided six assists, making him a key contributor. Unfortunately, Lankester is sidelined with a broken foot and is currently recovering.
In his absence, Shilow Tracey, also an ex-Cambridge player, has stepped up, scoring five goals so far this season and becoming a crucial attacking threat for the Railwaymen.
Shared Shirts
Several players have represented both Newport County and Crewe Alexandra over the years. One notable figure is Mickey Demetriou, who spent six seasons with Newport, making over 300 appearances and scoring 10 goals from centre-back last season. He now anchors Crewe's defence.
Omar Bogle is another familiar face, having netted 27 goals in 86 appearances for Newport before making the move to Crewe last summer. Meanwhile, current Newport striker Courtney Baker-Richardson will come up against his former club, having scored 18 goals during his two years at Crewe.
Head-to-Head
Historically, Newport County have a slight edge over Crewe, with 16 wins to Crewe's 14, and 16 draws between the two clubs.
The most recent encounter saw the Exiles come out on top, securing a 2-1 win in September 2024.
Read about County's first-ever home and away win against the Railwaymen HERE.
Previous Encounters
One of the more memorable meetings between these two clubs came in August 2019, when Newport County sealed a dramatic 1-0 win at Rodney Parade. Padraig Amond's injury-time strike gave Newport their first win of the 2019-20 campaign under manager Michael Flynn.
Earlier this season, Newport triumphed 2-1 at Rodney Parade. The Exiles took the lead through a stunning strike by Cameron Evans, before Crewe equalised through Adrian Thibaut. However, less than two minutes later, Matt Baker restored Newport’s lead, heading in a pinpoint cross from Anthony Glennon.
Match Facts
- Crewe have won just one of their last six league encounters with Newport (D2 L3), conceding 2+ goals in four of the last five meetings.
- Newport will be hoping to secure a first league double over Crewe since the 1971-72 season.
- Crewe have been strong at home, losing only one of their last 13 home league matches (W7 D5), conceding an average of just 0.6 goals per game during that run.
- Newport are currently on an eight-match winless streak in away league games (D4 L4), their longest such run since 2018-19.