Crewe Alexandra 1, Newport County 1
Newport County failed to see off 10-man Crewe Alexandra at their Gresty Road ground.
The Exiles were 1-0 ahead when Crewe had Perry Ng sent off after 17 minutes for a second bookable offence, but the home team fought back to earn a League Two point.
Frank Nouble fired Newport ahead when he tapped in after Joss Labadie’s shot was parried by Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garrett and soon after Ng was dismissed.
Only a minute after the dismissal Crewe equalised when Chris Dagnall converted George Cooper’s low cross.
Newport are unbeaten after three league and cup matches, but have drawn twice and a victory at Crewe would have been a major boost to manager Mike Flynn and his players.
Labadie, Mark O’Brien, Sean Rigg and Frank Nouble were all recalled to the Newport starting line-up after being rested from the 2-0 midweek cup win at Southend United.
Scot Bennett was out with an ankle injury, while Lamar Reynolds, David Pipe and Tom Owen-Evans were among the substitutes.
County set up with a three-men central defensive unit, teenager Ben White linking with O’Brien and Mickey Demetrio.
Shawn McCoulsky partnered Nouble in attack.
Sean Rigg shone for County, while White went close with a volley which was saved by the keeper.
Newport still have to play a third successive League Two away match, at Coventry City next Saturday, before their first home fixture against Chesterfield on Saturday, August 26.
Manager Mike Flynn and his team are playing all games, including cup ties, right now while the Rodney Parade playing surface is being relaid.
Crewe: Garrett, Ng, Walker, Raynes, Nolan, Cooper, Porter, Wintle, Pickering, Dagnall, Lowery. Subs not used: Bowery, Richards, Ainley, Dale, Kirk, Finney, Sass-Davies.
County: Day; Demetriou, White, O’Brien; Butler (Jahraldo-Martin, 90) Labadie, Dolan, Rigg (Owen-Evans, 75), Willmott; Nouble, McCoulsky (Reynolds, 57)
Subs not used: Bittner, Pipe, Foulston, Cole
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
Attendance: 3,400 (354 County).
