Lee Bell had sharp words with his players after Crewe faded away in disappointing fashion at the Mornflake Stadium last night.

Appointed as permanent boss on Thursday after a four-game interim spell, Bell watched as former Alex striker Offrande Zanzala claimed a late winner as Newport staged a second-half comeback after trailing to a super strike from Lachlan Brook.

Zanzala, who was released by the Railwaymen in 2021, polished off Omar Bogle's knockback for an 85th-minute finish after Cameron Norman had cancelled out Brook's first-half opener.

Bell's permanent reign got off to an uplifting start thanks to some magic from the Brentford loan winger, who swivelled onto Kelvin Mellor's pass and rocketed a left-footer into the top corner beyond Joe Day in the 13th-minute.

Zac Williams had a far post effort blocked by Scott Bennett before the visitors went close to levelling when Norman clattered the crossbar on the half-hour mark.

After the break, Newport were the better side and their skipper Mickey Demetriou was left to rue placing his header straight into Arthur Okonkwo's hands from a corner.

But Crewe hit the panic button as they were pressed back, and when Williams attempted to hack the ball clear, he only teed up Norman, who drove a deflected shot past Okonkwo for Graham Coughlan side's 62nd-minute equaliser.

Norman then crashed an effort against the bar as the visitors turned the screw before Zanzala made it count after Bogle knocked Norman's cross back across the box.

Bell said: "It's a massive honour to be appointed as manager, but I'm bitterly disappointed we've turned in a performance like that and I've let the players know afterwards.

"Newport deserved their win and we can't be relying on scoring "worldies" every week."