NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan says his team have ‘set their standards’ after fighting back for a 2-1 win against Crewe Alexandra in League Two.

The Exiles climbed to 17th, eight points above the relegation zone, thanks to goals by Cameron Norman and Offrande Zanzala in the second half.

They trailed to a wonderstrike by Lachlan Brook’s but responded to deservedly take the spoils in Cheshire.

“I wasn’t happy at half-time but I am so proud of these lads. They run through brick walls for this club,” said Coughlan.

“I thought we were outstanding and I would think, possibly apart from 4-0 at Harrogate, you’d be hard pressed to find a game where we have played better this season. We were outstanding to a man.

“We were ‘late off the bus’ and left our mindset and mentality on it, we didn’t come out of the traps and Crewe got a brilliant goal.

“I told them at half-time that they had dropped their standards, that they can’t wait for something to happen in football. I reminded them how good individually and collectively they are.

“That is a great group of lads in there and they have set their standards now, I don’t want them to come off that.”

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The manager was pleased that County made the most of the half-time break to turn things around.

“They took on board what me and the coaches said, and the players speak as well at half-time,” said Coughlan.

“They came out and put a performance that full-deserved a win, and let’s be honest, we should have run out winners by a few more goals.

“We crashed a couple of shots against the bar and had a stonewall penalty but to a man they were outstanding. That's the way that I want them to play week in, week out.”

Zanzala came off the bench for his first league appearance since August and came up with the winner later on, scoring from close range after Priestley Farquharson's knock down.

“I was brave last week with a substitution that probably cost us. I didn’t come off and this one did, that’s football,” said Coughlan, who brought on attacker Thierry Nevers for defender Demetriou in the 2-1 loss to Derby in the FA Cup.

“I believe in this group and the players with have at our disposal, we tried to win the game with a positive substitution. I would take an FA Cup defeat for three points.”

Lee Bell had no complaints over the result in his first game since being confirmed as permanent Crewe boss.

“Newport deserved their win and we can’t be relying on scoring ‘worldies’ every week. It is important to stop the ball going into our box," he said.

“We coped with that in the first half and we spoke to them at half-time about what to expect from Newport, but I think it was a shock to them."