Manager David Hughes praised his players’ discipline, structure, and togetherness as Newport County secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at Crawley Town, his first league win since taking charge.
After a resilient opening-day draw against promotion favourites Notts County, the Exiles travelled to the Broadfield Stadium to face a Crawley side keen to respond in their first home game of the season. Goals from Kai Whitmore and Liam Shephard sealed all three points for County, who showed both attacking quality and defensive steel to see the game out.
“I’m delighted for the players. They deserve all the credit for how they’ve gone about their work. We’ve spoken since day one about everyone being ‘all in’. We don’t carry anyone — starters and finishers all have a huge role to play. That’s been evident in every game so far.”
Hughes admitted his side needed to manage the game’s momentum, especially with the hosts motivated to bounce back from defeat on the opening weekend. “At half-time we felt we had more in the tank. With a couple of subtle changes, we believed we could push for the win. We want to be positive, play on the front foot, and let the players express themselves while maintaining a structure that makes us difficult to play against.”
County’s opener came from a well-timed run and composed finish by Whitmore — something Hughes says has been a focus in training. “We’ve worked a lot on midfielders breaking beyond the front line. Kai’s got bundles of energy and took his chance superbly.”
The second goal arrived via Liam Shephard, making his first start for the club. Hughes was full of praise for the experienced defender, both for his finish and his influence off the pitch. “We brought Liam in for his defensive qualities and professionalism, but it’s great to see him on the scoresheet. In a young squad, his experience is invaluable in helping guide the younger players.”
The manager also highlighted the contribution of his coaching staff to the result. “Lee Kendall and Wayne Hatswell spend huge amounts of time on set plays, making sure we’re organised in both boxes. That hard work showed today.”
With a busy schedule ahead, Hughes confirmed James Clarke missed out through a minor injury, with the decision made to protect him ahead of a run of Saturday-Tuesday fixtures.
The Exiles now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Millwall at Rodney Parade.