Graham Coughlan criticised referee Adam Herczeg as well as his side’s second-half showing as Newport capitulated at Crewe.
The official turned down the Welsh side’s penalty claims early in the game after Aaron Wildig appeared to be impeded in the box. Within minutes former County favourite Mickey Demetriou edged Crewe ahead and while Will Evans levelled soon after, Demetriou grabbed his second to restore the Railwaymen’s lead after the break.
“Crewe controlled the game in the second half and we couldn’t get up to speed,” admitted Coughlan, who said he would be visiting the officials’ dressing room after the Gresty Road clash to express his frustration.
“We should have had a penalty when Aaron was dragged down. We got a horrendous excuse from the referee and fourth official who said it was normal football contact. I don’t think it was a red card, but it was definitely a penalty.
“But it was very, very poor from us in the second half after we had been very good in the first half. Our defending left a lot to be desired and I’ve seen stuff like that in a park on Sunday morning.
“Even making changes we didn’t have the legs and that was disappointing after the way we’d played against Doncaster and Charlton in the cup. We can’t have that drop in the level of our performance.”
Demetriou, who left Rodney Parade to join Crewe in the summer, was on hand to finish from close range after Nic Townsend spilled Jack Powell’s free-kick in the eighth minute.
Another piece of poor goalkeeping had Newport back on terms with on-loan Liverpool youngster Harvey Davies outmuscled on his goal line by Evans, who headed into an empty net.
Davies prevented the visitors from taking control with good saves from Seb Palmer-Houlden and Harry Charsley. But Crewe were the better side after the break and Demetriou volleyed home Joel Tabiner’s free-kick before Elliott Nevitt was upended in the box by Ryan Delaney and Chris Long fired home from the spot.
The lively Nevitt sealed Crewe’s victory when he curled a low shot into the far corner for his first goal for the club, although Charsley reduced the arrears when he drove into the top corner.
Crewe boss Lee Bell said: “Our set-plays are important and our deliveries have been very good which is a credit to the work done by our coach Kenny Lunt.
“We are all pleased for Elliott to get his first goal and we hope this takes him on a run. He doesn’t have setbacks and he doesn’t let things bother him.
“We’ve had a decent start to the season, particularly if you include the performance at Sunderland in the Carabao Cup (where they won 5-3 on penalties).
“It’s a first league win and Newport are a good side, they were excellent when beating Doncaster at the weekend. We had to stick with them and match them and the boys stepped it up in the second half and deserve all the praise.”
Fulham 1-4 Wolves: Classy Cunha stuns Craven Cottage
Matheus Cunha scored two goals and assisted one as Wolves stunned Fulham with a 4-1 victory at Craven Cottage, making it back-to-back Premier League wins for the visitors.
Alex Iwobi's fantastic long-range curler put Fulham ahead in the 19th minute but Cunha – a bright spark in a so far demoralising season for Gary O'Neil's men – poked home a 31st-minute equaliser.
Cunha turned provider as Joao Gomes put Wolves ahead early in the second half, with the Brazilian duo later trading roles when Cunha added his second with an astonishing finish from the edge of the box.
Fulham were forced to finish the game with 10 men due to Joachim Andersen sustaining an injury after they had used all their substitutes, and Goncalo Guedes came off the bench to add a fourth for Wolves.
The victory lifts them outside the relegation zone on nine points, while Fulham drop two places to ninth, four adrift of the top four.
Data Debrief: Clutch Cunha ready to lead Wolves' survival push
Cunha will justifiably grab the headlines in the coming days after a superb all-round display at Craven Cottage. His opening goal calmed the visitors' nerves before the break as a deft touch and finish ensured the away side went in level.
However, his link-up play in the second half really caught the eye, with a sharp pass to tee up Gomes and a late goal that took the game away from Fulham.
A debate between which of his two goals was better underlines just how impressive he was against Marco Silva's team. He has a total of 10 direct Premier League goal contributions so far this season (seven goals, three assists), meaning he has been involved in half of Wolves' strikes.
He also has 26 goal involvements in his last 29 Premier League starts, scoring 17 and assisting nine. If Wolves are to survive, he will hold the key.
Bournemouth 1-2 Brighton: Ten-man Seagulls hold out to end Cherries' home streak
Ten-man Brighton maintained the pressure on the Premier League’s top four by holding out for a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth.
The Seagulls scored early in both halves, with goals from Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma sealing the points at the Vitality Stadium.
Just four minutes had elapsed when Joao Pedro put Fabian Hurzeler’s side in front, tucking away the rebound after Kepa Arrizabalaga could only parry Georginio Rutter's fierce drive.
The Brazilian then turned provider in the 49th minute with a delightful throughball to release Mitoma, who slotted home.
Brighton had to play the final half an hour with a numerical disadvantage after Carlos Baleba was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Bournemouth pulled one back in stoppage time through David Brooks.
Antoine Semenyo then rattled the crossbar with the final kick of the game, as the visitors just about held on to move level on points again with Chelsea and Arsenal, who they trail on goal difference.
Data Debrief: Buoyant Brighton build on momentum
Having come from behind to beat reigning champions Manchester City before the international break, Brighton built on that momentum to prevent Bournemouth from winning four successive Premier League home games for the first time in their history.
Joao Pedro played a starring role once more with another goal and assist, meaning he has now been directly involved in eight goals in his last nine league appearances.
The Seagulls have now collected 13 points since the start of October, with no other side registering more during that time.
Aston Villa 2-2 Crystal Palace: Sarr's first league goal for Eagles helps extend hosts' winless run
Ross Barkley’s late headed equaliser helped Aston Villa earn a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Villa Park, although their winless run now stands at four matches in the league.
Unai Emery’s side could not shake their poor form as they were forced to come from behind twice at home to an injury-hit Palace team.
Ismaila Sarr got the visitors off to a flying start with his first-ever league goal for the club on four minutes as he slotted home on the break, though Ollie Watkins brought the hosts level in the 36th minute.
Villa could have gone ahead as Youri Tielemans saw a penalty saved just before half-time, but it was Palace who took advantage through Justin Devenny. The 21-year-old put visitors back in front in first-half stoppage time.
The hosts left it late to snatch an equaliser as Barkley headed home from Tieleman's corner off the left with 13 minutes to go.
Aston Villa go seventh in the table, while Crystal Palace drop below Wolves and into the relegation zone in 18th.
Data Debrief: Sarr and Watkins lead from the front
Watkins has been directly involved in 50 goals in 80 Premier League appearances at Villa Park (35 goals, 15 assists), now the outright most of any Villa player in the competition (Gabriel Agbonlahor, 49).
At the other end, Sarr scored and assisted in a Premier League game for the second time in his career, previously doing so versus Liverpool in February 2020.
Both players led their respective sides for expected goals (xG), with Sarr accruing a total of 0.69 from the right wing, while Watkins totalled more than penalty-taker Tielemans with 1.29 xG.
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