NEWPORT COUNTY AFC – MANCHESTER UNITED 2–4
United were in good control initially and looked to avoid the famous banana peel by a good margin.
But ten Hag’s men eventually learned that Newport was more than just a transport leg in the FA Cup’s fourth round. After going 0-2 down, the team from England’s fourth tier battled back to equalize against a shell-shocked United side just after the break.
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According to the statistics agency Opta is the first time since 1996 that United have conceded two or more goals against a team below them in the divisional system. The last time they conceded two or more against a team from the fourth tier was in 1970.
– Humiliating for United, was the verdict from Samuel Luckhurst in Manchester Evenings News.
Although at times it seemed as if it was written in the stars that Newport would score one more goal, instead it was United who hit back and secured further progress in the FA Cup.
– Fully played out
Despite some non-sporting noise surrounding Marcus Rashford in recent days, it was an all-round United team that skated out of the starting blocks.
Scolded Antony found an empty corridor and poked Bruno Fernandes inside the box. With a precise finish, the Portuguese put United into the lead before ten minutes had passed on the clock.
Newport were just about on the hook before super talent Kobbie Mainoo doubled the lead.
– They (Newport) have been completely outplayed by their Premier League opponent so far, wrote Sky Sports‘ Dan Sansom quite summarily midway through the first half.
But things can change quickly in football, and ten minutes before half-time came the example that confirms the claim.
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Out of nowhere, midfielder Bryn Morris fired from around 20 metres. Lisandro Martínez’s head sent the ball into the net behind Altay Bayindir in the United cage – and suddenly there was a fight again.
– A distance shot from eternity. What a projectile, commented Viaplay’s Roar Stokke.
Shaken United
After the change of sides, what should not happen for United happened. William Albert Evans sneaked in at the first post and scored the equalizer for Newport.
An exhilarated Newport crowd sprinkled salt in the wounds of United manager Erik ten Hag and chanted “kicked tomorrow”.
United got their bearings, and midway through the second half they were back in the lead. Luke Shaw skated first in the post, before Antony put in the rebound. In overtime, Rasmus Højlund put the nail in the coffin.
Thus, United could breathe a sigh of relief after further advancement.
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