Boss Dave Artell reflected on the character shown by his side to rescue a point after playing 74 minutes against Newport County with ten men.

Perry Ng's 16th minute red card for his second bookable offence came after The Exiles had take the lead through Franck Nouble. Chris Dagnall equalised a minute after the sending off, & then Crewe dug in to more than match their opponents to record the 1-1 draw.

The Gaffer said: "There were some football challenges, some physical challenges, some mental challenges thrown at us by the referee, and all in all I thought we came through it with flying colours.

"I thought we didn't half dig in, deserved the luck that came our way. We weren't shutting up shop by a long stretch, but I'm pleased with a point.

"It was a similar test to Mansfield and they stood up to it, they left everything out on the pitch for us. I think all the fans have gone home saying 'yep, they aren't half fighting for the football club'.

"There are areas to improve but it was a hard-earned point.

"Perry (Ng) has let himself down and he let the lads down. He apologised but I can't condone it. He's given the referee the opportunity to send him off.

"The fact the referee didn't even give a foul when there was an absolute leg-breaker on the far side is absolutely criminal, we get told not to criticise referees but - he will be disappointed with his performance I'm sure he will.

"Daggers (Chris Dagnall) will score goals we know that. I'm delighted for him. Chris (Porter) is disappointed in there, the one in the first half looked harder to miss and at the end his diving header - he's bitterly disappointed with himself. But that shows he cares.

"I thought George (Cooper) was magnificent all afternoon, ran out of legs a little bit, but to a man they were terrific.

"(Harry Pickering) was terrific, he was brilliant. We already knew, we know he's ready, and today it's proven. He didn't look a fish out of water at all. He's unfazed by anything.

"For their goal, they had three contacts in the box without us touching it. We have to be better in that area of the pitch. We will keep working on it, we have been working on it, and we'll get there."