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Inside modest ground where Newport County will host Man Utd, with tiny dressing room and retro dugout


MANCHESTER UNITED’S stars will be crammed into a tiny away dressing room at Newport on Sunday.

The Red Devils travel to Rodney Parade for their FA Cup fourth round clash with the League Two side.

Manchester United will be greeted by a tiny dressing room at Newport on SundayCredit: Huw Evans
Rodney Parade features a retro dugout that holds just 13 peopleCredit: Huw Evans

Erik ten Hag and his players are set to be greeted by beige tiles and peeling plaster once they enter the changing area.

Meanwhile, the hosts will prepare for the match in their plush home dressing room.

United will have to make do with facilities more suited to Sunday League than the Premier League.

The away dressing room features faded paint on the walls, a fold-up table, physio’s chair, a few bins and two urinals.

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Before even reaching the dressing room, the United stars will be ushered through a small grey gate next to the main road at the 7,850-capacity ground.

The 1,400 travelling supporters are set to be housed in a temporary stand and given access to the Rodney’s Bar.

A new space is also being created for the post-match press conferences, with Ten Hag expected to speak to the media from a converted office as opposed to the tiny box room the club usually uses.

His players may also be hemmed in on the bench, as the away dugout only holds 13 people.

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Hosts Newport will use their relatively plush home dressing room during the matchCredit: Huw Evans
Erik ten Hag and his players will be a world away from their Old Trafford homeCredit: Getty

Emergency chairs will need to be found for substitutes and coaching staff as they watch on in front of the home fans.

United fans and players can find some home comforts at Rodney Parade, though, with water often leaking through the roof of the old stand.

Supporters filmed water leaking through the Old Trafford roof earlier this season in footage which later went viral on social media.

The Red Devils will hope to overcome the challenges presented by Newport’s home ground and avoid a giant-killing.

FA Cup fourth round fixtures

Bournemouth vs Swansea

Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest

Sheffield Wednesday vs Coventry

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

Tottenham vs Manchester City

Ipswich vs Maidstone

Leicester vs Birmingham

Leeds vs Plymouth

Everton vs Luton

Sheffield United vs Brighton

Fulham vs Newcastle

West Brom vs Wolves

Watford vs Southampton

Liverpool vs Norwich

Newport vs Manchester United

Blackburn vs Wrexham

Leicester were beaten at Rodney Parade in 2019, after Tottenham were taken to a replay a year earlier.

Graham Coughlan’s side, whose star striker worked as a farmer until he was 25, are currently 14th in League Two.

The Exiles have beaten Oldham, Barnet and Eastleigh already in this season’s competition to set up their clash with the 12-time winners.

United players will enter Rodney Parade through a small grey gateCredit: Huw Evans
1,400 visiting supporters will be housed in a temporary stand at the groundCredit: Huw Evans


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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