Newport County began the post-James Rowberry era with a sense of déjà vu as they lost to the team who started the day bottom of the table – just as they had the week before.
Rowberry’s 12-month tenure was ended by a 1-0 home defeat to Rochdale at Rodney Parade last week, allowing the visitors to climb off the bottom.
And caretaker manager and sporting director Darren Kelly got off to an equally miserable start with a 2-1 loss at Crawley Town, allowing the hosts to leapfrog Hartlepool United into 23rd spot and leaving the Exiles in 19th – just two points above the drop zone.
Kelly stuck with the 3-5-2 formation favoured by Rowberry for much of his reign but made two personnel changes.
Matty Dolan took possession of the captain’s armband once again as he came into the heart of the defence and Scot Bennett returned in midfield.
Out went youngsters Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Adam Lewis as Kelly opted to go with experience for a testing away day in west Sussex.
Dom Telford, last season’s top scorer at County with 26 goals, was only on the bench for the home side having rejected a new contract and decamped for Crawley in the summer.
After a subdued start it was County who began to apply some pressure on the home goal with striker Omar Bogle the danger man.
The former Cardiff forward shrugged off a challenge and aimed a low cross across the face of goal, but a Crawley body beat Will Evans to it.
Bogle then swung in another cross from the left that was just out of reach of Evans and Bennett in the box.
Dolan then saw a superb free-kick rattle the post on 21 minutes and, moments later, Bogle’s overhead kick was saved by Crawley keeper David Robson.
The home side, who are also managerless after sacking Kevin Betsy last week, slowly began to create chances of their own midway through the first half.
Dion Conroy’s right footed shot from the centre of the box was blocked before James Tilley fired wide from the edge of the area and Tom Fellows was narrowly off target after a jinking run from the left.
The opening goal arrived five minutes before the break when County goalkeeper Joe Day, who was at fault for Rochdale’s winner last week, rushed out of his box and misjudged a kick.
Fellows pick out Tilley who quickly curled the ball into an empty net.
Ashley Nadesan doubled Crawley’s advantage 12 minutes into the second half with a header into the top left corner from Jack Powell’s free-kick.
Kelly went for broke in response, sending on Moriah-Welsh, Thierry Nevers, Lewis Collins and Chanka Zimba, and Moriah-Welsh gave the visitors hope with a fine finish into the top right corner 11 minutes from time.
Nevers was denied by Robson before Crawley survived a frantic goalmouth scramble in stoppage time and there was no way back for County, who continue to look over their shoulder with concern at the wrong end of League Two.
