Crawley Town 2-1 Newport County: James Tilley helps Reds climb off bottom

Newport's Will Evans stretches to beat Nicholas Tsaroulla of Crawley to the ball

Crawley climbed off the foot of the table as they won the battle of the managerless League Two sides.

The Reds sacked Kevin Betsy last week while Newport dismissed James Rowberry.

Crawley led when visiting keeper Joe Day misjudged a kick, allowing Tom Fellows to pick out James Tilley to slot home.

Ashley Nadesan doubled the lead when he headed in Jack Powell's free-kick, although Nathan Moriah-Welsh's thunderbolt gave Newport late hope.

Exiles captain Matty Dolan had hit the post with a free-kick early in the game, but they are now in 19th place and just two points above Crawley.

Newport County sporting director Darren Kelly said:

"Two poor goals and I spoke to the players in there it's pretty much been the story of our season.

"If you look at the chances we had in the game it was a lot more than them... we just never put them away. It's a bit of a theme.

"It's important that we get the right (managerial) appointment, it's something we don't want to rush into. But to get that right person in as soon as possible would be good.

"There's talks, there's quite a few things going on with that and I'm hoping we can get that sorted pretty soon."