George Ray says that Crewe have to build on last week's superb result at Fratton Park.

Crewe Alexandra captain George Ray says that the club are very much still involved in a relegation scrap and that this weekend’s home clash with Newport County AFC is a must-win in his eyes.

Ray headed home the winning goal at Portsmouth last weekend and the centre-half now wants to secure back-to-back wins with a home victory over bottom club Newport. He has called on the players to demonstrate the same level of energy to make sure we get the job done against a Newport side that have just sacked their manager Graham Westley.

Ray told the club’s official web-site: “It was nice to play in front of 16,000 fans last week but we have to make sure the level is the same in front of 4,000 or whatever against Newport. The energy levels and work rate have to be the same every single week.

“We cannot let our energy levels drop because Newport will offer a different challenge to Portsmouth. As far as I’m concerned it is a must-win game for us. We are at home and we have the opportunity to put even more points between ourselves and them, so we have to get the job done.

“We are still very much in a scrap and we need the three points and we know that Newport will be fighting for their lives, especially after losing last week at home to Orient.

“It is another chance for us to show what we can do and move closer to mid-table with a good result. We have to take the chance with both hands.

George added: “It was tough for me in the first part of the season of the season because I wasn’t playing but the new gaffer came in and gave everyone a fresh chance and I am enjoying my football again and I suppose that is just the highs and lows of football.”