Manchester United avoided an almighty upset in the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-2 victory away to League Two’s Newport County – but it was no Sunday stroll for the Premier League side.
As soon as Newport County secured their spot in the final 32 with a victory over non-league Eastleigh via a replay, the trip to Rodney Parade never looked like an inviting tie for Manchester United.
Newport midfielder Scot Bennett, a veteran of the club’s recent cup runs, warned: “Big teams that turn up aren’t used to what it is like here. The pitch for one is a bit of a leveller. The changing rooms are tiny and they are used to being in nice changing rooms.”
The fearsome Welsh crowd, which had been officially (and unofficially) extended in preparation for United’s visit, also did their best to put the Red Devils off.
#NPTMNU There’s a lot to unpick here pic.twitter.com/GvYIM6JJFt
— Stuart Dade (@StuartDade) January 28, 2024
Best seats in the house #NEWvMNU pic.twitter.com/AkCHxtLZ2X
— payj 👸🏼 (@paigeredgersxx) January 28, 2024
However, United started the game with an authority that belied their unfamiliar surroundings. Bruno Fernandes fired the visitors ahead after seven minutes before Kobbie Mainoo doubled United’s lead inside the opening quarter-hour. As Opta pointed out, the last time United held such a commanding and early advantage in an FA Cup tie they won 6-0.
2 – Man Utd have gone 2-0 up in the opening 15 minutes of an FA Cup match for the first time since January 2020 v Tranmere, a match they went on to win 6-0. Ominous. pic.twitter.com/EPXk7FLnxv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 28, 2024
Yet, Newport were just warming up.
Shortly before the half-time interval, Bryn Morris halved the deficit. Some onlookers uncharitably focused on the contact Lisandro Martinez made with the ball rather than Morris’ lashed effort.
A rightly subdued celebration for a #disappointingdeflection
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) January 28, 2024
That was a terrific Newport goal, and I’m not sure I’d call that a “clearance”from the keeper. It was a targeted and brilliantly delivered longer pass to take advantage of a 2v2… and the rest was really good play too. What a response!
— Stuart James (@stujames75) January 28, 2024
Yet, the approval was unanimous when Will Evans equalised just two minutes after the restart – outside of United’s fanbase of course. Evans was a particularly popular goalscorer given his rapid rise. Just two years earlier, the forward had been playing part-time for Bala Town while milking cows on his parents’ farm.
Newport boss Graham Coughlan had warned that his unashamedly direct side would not change their style for the visit of the Premier League giants. “I’m sure Mr Ten Hag will know and understand our DNA as soon as he watches videos of us. We are not suddenly going to be playing tiki-taka.” Yet, Evans’ equaliser came at the end of a slick sequence.
THAT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL GOAL. FROM TOWNSEND, TO EVANS & PALMER-HOULDEN, TO WILDIG, LEWIS AND EVANS AGAIN!
INCREDIBLE GOAL. COME ON NEWPORT.
— Ali Maxwell (@AliMaxwell_) January 28, 2024
In a season that has been laced with disappointment, United‘s collapse opened them up to even more ridicule.
This aged poorly #NPTMNU pic.twitter.com/FmK9IoE9iy
— Josh 🏴🇹🇷 (@JoshB_HCAFC) January 28, 2024
#NPTMNU pic.twitter.com/LGpYf9o2WR
— Jason (@JasonofSuburbia) January 28, 2024
The worst part about this for United is how predictable all of it is, from the very first whistle
— Mitch (@mitchwilks) January 28, 2024
Playing to a soundtrack of chants that underscored the Newport crowd’s lack of faith in Erik ten Hag’s management, United’s players helped their beleaguered boss avoid another sorry chapter.
Antony ended his season-long wait for an assist by teeing up Fernandes’ opener and got on the scoresheet himself in the 68th minute. Yet, even his first strike of the campaign didn’t spare him from the jibes of an unforgiving internet.
Antony after finally scoring a goal, against Newport in the #FACup 💀pic.twitter.com/HWsd9XbKf2#NPTMNU
— Luke Bernard-Haigh (@50shadesofhaigh) January 28, 2024
Antony the Man Utd hero.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 28, 2024
Despite Newport’s best efforts, United cemented their place in the fifth round with Rasmus Hojlund’s stoppage-time strike. Ten Hag’s side will face one of Bristol City or Nottingham Forest while Newport are left with a sense of what could have been.
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