This evening we take a trip up to Crewe and The Mornflake Stadium, a stadium that has been a happy hunting ground for County over the years. We didn’t need to dip too far back into the archive to find this week’s classic County encounter, with our 2-1 win from last season being our pick of the bunch.
As the rest of the world had their eyes locked on Qatar and the World Cup, Football League fans up and down the UK lined terraces and packed out stadiums as normal service resumed. Just days after Wales had been sent home from the tournament, County fans were given something to lift the spirits on a cold December Friday night in the Midlands.
Graham Coughlan arrived at Rodney Parade on October 10th and efficiently turned the team’s fortunes. Two wins and two draws in his opening five games filled the fans with belief, and 446 made the long trip up the country for the Crewe match.
It looked as though those efforts were not to be rewarded early on when Lachlan Brook fired a screamer into the top of the net for Crewe in the 13th minute. Coughlan had his men well-drilled, though, and, not to be outdone, Cameron Norman fired a similar effort off the bar minutes later, denying us what would have been a spectacular equaliser.
Norman’s rivalry with the woodwork would continue as he would strike it a second time before the end of the half. His persistence finally paid off when a goalmouth scramble led to Norman picking up the ball on the edge of the box, drifting past two Crewe players and slotting the ball into the bottom corner in the 63rd minute.
There was more drama on the horizon, though. Former Crewe striker Offrande Zanzala came off the bench in the 74th minute and grabbed his first goal for the club 11 minutes later, giving us the three points and the travelling fans an early Christmas present.
Watch the match highlights here:
If you would like to come and support the 'port this evening you can secure your ticket here.