Any pre-Christmas cheer evaporated as County crashed to a 13th league defeat of the season to leave the Amber Army still yearning for a three-point maximum at Rodney Parade, the agonising wait now exceeding 273 days.
Christian Fuch's men found themselves reduced to 10 for a successive game, as linkman Michael Spellman saw red for a second bookable offence on 56 minutes - sent packing by referee Matt Corlett for for pole-axing Fleetwood's Matty Virtue just before the break, following that up by crunching Lewis McCann.
As the interval loomed, strikes from destroyer Finley Potter and raider Ryan Graydon inside five minutes effectively sealed a contest, Port, displaying some inventive attacking football, had illuminated prior to being breached.
Yet, it might have been so different had the Exiles finished some slick, sweeping first-half moves which had the Cod Army swaying - Spellman and substitute Ben Lloyd so unfortunate against opponents, who hadn't won on the road since August 30.
Saturday's results now show the rock-bottom Port effectively five points from League Two safety. Muscle injuries to on loan Leicester City striker Nathan Opoku and Gerard Garner added to the gloom, lightened by the return of experienced Welsh midfielder Matt Smith, coming on as a substitute after almost four months side lined.
County showed two alterations from the side who fought for the courageous 2-2 result at promotion-chasing Crewe 72 hours earlier. Opoku replaced suspended Courtney Baker-Richardson. Cameroon flyer Bobby Kamwa slotted in for Lloyd, who dropped to a bench that included fit-again 19-times capped Wales international midfielder Smith.
Looking to arrest a dismal away record that has seen the Cod Army capsize five times out of their last six trips - a complete contract to the strong form at their Highbury Stadium - the visitors made five changes to a system that fields three centre halves and wing-backs.
Potter came into the back three, borrowed Manchester United youngster Ethan Ennis installed wide, Mark Helm playing behind an attacking warhead of Graydon and former Welsh cap Ched Evans, who was making his 536th professional appearance.
County's nerves were certainly fraying during the opening exchanges - a plethora of mis-placed midfield passes so nearly allowing Fleetwood to draw first blood. Keeper Jordan Wright parried Lewis McCann's initial effort, before then blocking Evans' angled blast.
The ex-Grimsby stopper excelled again on 21 minutes, brilliantly turning over Potter's point-blank header after Kayden Hughes had risen above Cameron Evans, glanced across goal.
Yet, playing enterprising slick possession-based soccer promoted by new chief Christian Fuchs, the Exiles could have easily been ahead as the half unfolded. Fed by a Evans-Sammy Braybrooke interchange, Spellman cut inside Hughes, his 18-yard left-foot curler rapping the top of the bar with Fleetwood gloveman Jay Lynch struggling.
Lloyd, on for the injured Garner on 19 minutes, then latched onto a sharply-taken Braybrooke free kick, only to send his drive whistling inches wide.
Spellman so nearly profited from an eight-man move involving left-back Anthony Glennon, Cameron Antwi, Braybrooke and the quicksilver Kamwa, the attacking player's header just sailing over.
But, as the interval loomed, a couple of Fleetwood sucker punches floored brave County, - their defensive frailties again so evident. The Exiles never really cleared an Ethan Evans set piece, Potter moving in unmarked to power home in the 45th minute.
Then In the fourth added minute, Port had a real mountain to scale. McCann's threaded ball split Evans and Lee Jenkins, Graydon advancing to off-load a clinical finish.
It was a crippling blow for County who had displayed an abundance of flair and spirit. The contest was to become even more difficult five minutes into the re-start, of course. Spellman, booked for an illegally challenging Virtue in the second of four added first-half minutes, then picked up a second yellow in the 57th minute for upending McCann, referee Corlett acting decisively.
Punctured County's quest for vital reward was drifting away in the darkening early-evening sky. Indeed, the Cod Army were seeking to rub yet more salt into Port wounds - Ched Evans wastefully sliding another chance wide, Graydon then spurning an additional opportunity.
The Port's frustrations were increasing - left-back Glennon was cautioned for protesting at another Corlett ruling, the Scouser following Lloyd and the dismissed Spellman into the book.
Newport County [4-4-2]
Jordan Wright
Cameron Evans
James Clarke [C]
Lee Jenkins
Anthony Glennon
Michael Spellman
Sammy Braybrooke
Cameron Antwi
Bobby Kamwa
Nathan Opoku
Gerard Garner
Subs
Nik Tzanev [GK]
Matt Smith for Opoku 64mins
Ciaran Brennan
Tom Davies for Kamwa 64mins
Kai Whitmore for Antwi 64mins
Joe Thomas for Clarke 89 mins
Ben Lloyd for Garner 19 mins
Fleetwood [3-4-1-2]
Jay Lynch
Finley Potter
Toby Mullarkey
Kayden Hughes
Lewis McCann
Matty Virtue
Elliott Bonds [C]
Ethan Ennis
Mark Helm
Ched Evans
Ryan Graydon
Subs
David Harrington [GK]
Zech Medley for McCann 61mins
Will Davies for Graydon 80 mins
Jordan Davies for Helm 70 mins
Ronan Coughlan for Ched Evans 80 mins
George Morrison
Conor Haughey
Referee: Matt Corlett
Assistants: Jack Clench & Andrew Ellis
Fourth Official: Niall Felton
Attendance 3358 [Visiting supporters 111 ]