Newport boss Coughlan delighted with Manchester United dream come trueVenue: Rodney Parade, Newport Date: Sunday, 28 January Kick-off: 16:30 GMTCoverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru 2, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, plus live textHighlights: Match of the Day, BBC One from 22:30 GMT and later on demand
Newport County boss Graham Coughlan says he and many of his players have “always dreamed” of playing against Manchester United.
A sold-out Rodney Parade will welcome United in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday for what is arguably the biggest game in League Two Newport’s history.
Coughlan is a United fan, as are several of the Newport players.
“I never thought playing Manchester United would happen, you can dream, but now it’s reality,” Coughlan said.
“In the FA Cup as a player, coach and manager, I was always willing, ‘Go on, [draw] Man United’.
“A year goes and then another year [has] gone and another and eventually you give up on it and say ‘it’ll never happen’.
“I’ve followed United all my days. That’s why I was so emotional after the Eastleigh game.”
Newport needed a replay to beat both Eastleigh and Barnet in the FA Cup this season, and now they will face one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The Exiles have become no strangers to meetings with Premier League sides in recent seasons and they have earned a reputation as giant-killers, beating Leicester City and Leeds United and drawing with Tottenham Hotspur.
Midfielder Scot Bennett has participated in many of County’s cup upsets in recent seasons and the stalwart will make his 350th Exiles appearance against the team he, like his manager, supports.
“It’s almost written in the stars for me really to be making my 350th appearance against a team I supported when I was younger so that makes it even sweeter,” Bennett said.
“It’s always been a dream to play for them or against them so to get that opportunity makes it really special.
“Manchester United is my team – this was the game I’ve always wanted to play in.
“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.
“It’s like a cup final for us, we want to go out and give a good account of ourselves.”
When Newport knocked Premier League opponents out of FA Cup
‘It’s hostile, it’s noisy’
United are playing Newport at a time when the League Two club have much reason for optimism.
A fine run of form, with just two league defeats coming in their past 11 games, has steered them clear of relegation danger, with a notable, morale-boosting 1-0 win over Welsh rivals Wrexham last time out.
Newport are also under new ownership, with the previously fan-owned club sanctioning a sale to former Swansea City owner Huw Jenkins and boss Coughlan saying the club have “come through a storm” prior to the takeover.
Coughlan believes Rodney Parade will be bouncing on Sunday with close to 10,000 supporters packed into a ground shared with rugby side Dragons.
Supporters are extremely close to both the pitch and dugouts at Rodney Parade, and Coughlan wants his side to use that to their advantage.
“You can hear everything. Sometimes you don’t want to hear,” he said.
“It is hostile, it’s noisy and when they get going and start beating that drum, it’s an atmosphere to savour.
“Irrespective this season of whether we’ve been winning, losing or drawing, our fans have got right behind us.
“At times, our fans have dragged us over the line, they’ve dragged points and wins out of games where we didn’t think it was possible. The noise that they make, they’re so supportive.”
Altay Bayindir’s debut will come in the first competitive meeting between Newport County and Manchester United
Bayindir to make his debut
With regular goalkeeper Andre Onana at the Africa Cup of Nations, Turkey international Altay Bayindir will make his United debut at Rodney Parade, manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed.
“He is experienced, played in a big club in Turkey under big pressure, he knows how to deal with it, we were convinced… so we are looking forward to Sunday,” he said.
“Have you been to Fenerbahce? The pressure? Also for the national team. He knows how to deal with it.
“Altay is waiting for this moment and this is his moment.”
The United boss is confident his team can cope with the difficult environment at Rodney Parade, which is a world away from Old Trafford in terms of facilities, but says his side – who have already lost 14 matches this season – cannot underestimate the Exiles.
“Also in the Netherlands we have a cup, we play the games against lower-class teams,” he said.
“Always when you go, as a big club against a low-class team, how you approach that, definitely we are not in a position to underestimate any opponent.”