Crewe Alex wasted a golden chance to climb closer to safety with a dreadful second half performance which allowed rock-bottom Newport County a 2-1 win at Gresty Road on Saturday.

They had looked comfortable at half-time, leading 1-0 thanks to a Callum Cooke strike and barely threatened by very poor Exiles outfit.

With second-bottom Leyton Orient well on their way to a home defeat, it was a great opportunity to put 10 points between themselves and the drop zone.

But instead an abject second 45 minutes saw Dan Butler and Joss Labadie get goals for the visitors, who hugely upped their robust and direct game, and keep their hopes of beating the drop alive.

Now Crewe have slipped to fourth bottom, and remain seven points above the trapdoor with a tricky trip to Crawley Town next up on Tuesday (7.45pm).

NEARLY 200 travelling Newport County AFC fans chanted ‘we are staying up’ after watching their side fight back from a goal down to claim a precious three points at Crewe Alexandra.

Caretaker manager Michael Flynn began his reign with a vital victory as a Dan Butler volley and an 88th-minute strike from new captain Joss Labadie completed the comeback.

It leaves the Exiles nine points from safety with a game in hand and 11 matches still to play – starting at Morecambe on Tuesday night.