NEWPORT County AFC manager Christian Fuchs saw his side climb off the bottom of the League Two table with a 2-0 win over Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night and declared: "This was a start."
Goals in each half from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Sammy Braybrooke earned County a first home win in 289 days and enabled them to climb above Harrogate Town and to within just one point of safety at the halfway stage of the season.
Baker-Richardson broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 28th minute and Braybrooke settled any nerves 14 minutes from time.
"I feel very good obviously, very proud, and not only because of that game," said Fuchs, who celebrated his first win as Exiles boss at the eighth attempt.
"When you look at the last six games that we played, we have got six points overall and there are a lot of good things happening here.
"It was a very good performance from the team," added the Austrian. "They stuck together, stayed patient.
"You felt it coming. The boys believe in themselves and we've built the confidence now. It's time also now to build momentum."
Harrogate lost at Accrington Stanley to replace County at the bottom and Fuchs' men are now only one point behind 22nd-placed Bristol Rovers.
"Anything that goes our way, any positive experience makes a big difference," said the manager, whose side travel to table-topping Bromley on New Year's Day.
"But for me, it's not about fighting against relegation. The team has shown me over the past few weeks that they have way more potential than what the table probably reflected. We want to climb up the table. It's definitely possible.
"This was a start. It's a good end to 2025 as well and we have to enjoy it and then starting tomorrow we will be preparing for the next game."
Braybrooke's goal may have been his final contribution in a County shirt as his loan move from Leicester City is due to expire on New Year's Eve and Fuchs says he is unsure whether the midfielder will be available to face Bromley the next day.
"We will find out very soon," said the manager. "A player like Sammy Braybrooke obviously is a top player for us, an ambitious player as well. We'll see what is going to happen. We definitely want him here. He's such a good player for us, but there are other players that can step up as well. We'll see what the next two days will bring. I'm optimistic until I cannot be any more.
"He's an important part of our team, but you cannot make the performance of the team to one player only. We have enough good players whatever way it goes. We would be happy for him to be here, but if that's not the case then we have other players who will fill his shoes.
"Nathan [Opoku] wants to be here definitely," he added of Braybrooke's fellow Leicester loanee. "He showed again when he came on that he is a threat to the opposition. He's very creative as well. I hope we will see him here in 2026."
