MANCHESTER UNITED are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating League Two side Newport County 4-2.
Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo put the visitors ahead with two brilliant finishes before Newport pulled two back themselves.
Antony then put United back ahead, tapping home after Luke Shaw hit the post. Rasmus Holdjund then put the game to bed with a drilled finish of his own.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm GMT
- Stream/TV: BBC One/iPlayer
- Newport XI: Townsend, Clarke, Delaney, Lewis, McLoughlin, Bennett, Morris, Wildig, Charsley, Palmer-Houlden, Evans
- Man Utd XI: Bayindir, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund
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Draw in full
Here was the 5th round draw in its entirety, drawn earlier today.
- Blackburn Rovers or Wrexham vs Newcastle
- Chelsea or Aston Villa vs Leeds United or Plymouth Argyle
- Bournemouth vs Leicester City
- Liverpool vs Watford or Southampton
- Bristol City or Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
- Wolves vs Brighton
- Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry City vs Maidstone United
- Luton Town vs Manchester City
ICYMI
Manchester United had to do it without Marcus Rashford today.
The forward is in hot water after reporting ill when not making training on Friday.
It later emerged he’d been out in Belfast on the Thursday night – and Erik ten Hag was spiky when questioned pre-match.
“He reported ill”, was his first response when asked where he was.
Pushed further on nightclub reports and pending disciplinary matter, he snapped back: “It’s an internal matter. I’ll deal with that.”
Now what?
United return to Premier League action in midweek with a tricky trip to Wolves on Thursday.
High flying West Ham and Aston Villa come next before a trip to Luton on February 18.
More from Coughlan
The boyhood United fan was asked what his biggest memory of today would be – and he said losing the game!
He also reckons his family in the stand – 14 of which traveled from Ireland last night – will be just as dejected.
He continued:” My biggest memory will be? Getting beat I suppose. You want memories to be successful. I’m a bad loser. There’s a real good bond in that dressing room and they represented the club immensely today.
“It wasn’t to be but I’m so proud of the lads. We needed those little moments and it didn’t fall for us.
“My family will probably be feeling the same as me, a little bit dejected. It hasn’t sunk in for me yet what we’ve achieved. We’ve just come up a little bit short on the day.”
Coughlan reacts
The Newport manager says scoring twice against United today will live with his players forever.
He was full of praise for the character of his side and admitted he was dreaming of a replay at one stage.
He told Match of the Day: “The best team won, they were clinical when they got their chances.
“At 2-2 the ball comes off the post and it fell to Antony. I did think at 2-2 we could possibly force a replay if we could weather the storm. Class saw them through.
“A lesser team might have chucked the towel in but I spoke about character at half-time. The lads reacted really well in the second half.
“When you score two goals against Manchester United, that creates memories. That will live with our boys forever. I’ve challenged our lads to push on.”
Into round 5
At the end of the day, United got the result they came for.
They’ll be back on the road in the next round, too.
United head to the winners of Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest, who’ll contest a replay.
Ten Hag reacts
The United boss continues the spiky nature of speaking to the press that he started the day with.
He also didn’t appear to be in the picture when the benches exchanged handshakes at the end….
He told Match of the Day: “The first 35 minutes minutes were very comfortable leading 2-0. It should have been 3-0 or 4-0. They created chances out of nothing.
“Our defence transition was not great. We had to start again to win this game and we did. Well done boys.
“We controlled the game, maybe we went a little bit slower. We had the chance to go 3-0. Garnacho hit the crossbar. They had nothing, really nothing and then they scored a goal.”
Main man
Speaking of which, Bruno Fernandes was awarded the Emirates Man of the Match for his display today.
Bruno reacts
United skipper Bruno Fernandes was disappointed with today’s score, admitting it ‘wasn’t perfect’.
He told Match of the Day: “It wasn’t the result we wanted.
“We wanted to win and we got it, but the result wasn’t the perfect one for us.
“We didn’t want to concede goals. Their first was an unbelievable shot but we had to kill the game before letting them get a second.”
Full time stats
The numbers behind that 90 minutes of football.
Newport with plenty of attempts at goal and will be rightly proud of their efforts.
United were always going to have more of the ball but didn’t do particularly a lot with it.
Views from SunSport’s Justin Allen at Rodney Parade
United have got past a huge banana skin here at Rodney Parade but it’s not been convincing.
The League Two side had them rocking after Bryn Morris and Will Evans scored either side of half time to come back from 2-0 down.
United got through in thanks to Anthony’s tap-in after Luke Shaw’s cracker bounced back of the right post – and then Rasmus Hijlund made the game safe in injury time.
If this was a League Two game you would say United deserved it but when you consider the gulf in class between the teams you have to say Erik ten Hag’s team have been poor.
Lots for Ten Hag to ponder going forward.
Newport meanwhile can be proud and they banked £400,000 from this tie.
Full time!
Manchester United are through but they were made to work for it!
Newport 2-4 Man Utd
Newport 2-4 Man Utd
98. CLOSE!
Evans wins Newport a free kick after being swiped by McTominay.
It’s a good opportunity wide on the left to create one final big chance which they work short.
It’s played to Waite 25 yards from goal, who curls an effort towards the top corner and Altay has to tip over at full stretch.
Newport 2-4 Man Utd
It was a nice ball through from McTominay which Garnacho picked up to feed Forson.
His attempt on the slide is saved well by Townsend but Hojlund is on hand to convert the rebound from 12 yards.
GOOOALLLL!!!
Game over as United score a fourth.
Rasmus Hojlund with the goal to make sure the visitors are in the 5th round.
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
90+3′ The header is won at the back post but it’s comfortable for the United keeper to claim underneath his bar.
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
90+2. A battle on the right is won by Waite.
He turns Dalot and finds Morris again 30 yards from goal and he hits a bullet towards goal which is deflected behind for a corner!
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
There will be a minimum of NINE minutes additional time played.
We’re not quite done yet….
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
CLOSE!
90′ Evans picks up a loose ball 30 yards from goal and drives a few yards before unleashing a fierce strike across goal which flies narrowly wide.
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
87. United make another pair of changes:
- 0FF: Antony & Martinez
- ON: Forson & Maguire
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
87. The free kick is far, far too deep and drifts away for a goal kick.
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
The game will restart now with that free kick for the home side.
The United medical staff will see to all needs on the pitch while the Newport medics deal with the situation off it.
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
There’s a pause in play as the medical staff deal with a medical emergency in the crowd.
The physios dart across the pitch to see to the individual.
Of course, we hope they’re OK and it’s not serious.
Newport 2-3 Man Utd
82. Free kick to Newport, just inside the United half but right in front of the technical area.
McLoughlin is ready to take.
Soccer Football – FA Cup – Fourth Round – Newport County AFC v Manchester United – Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales, Britain – January 28, 2024 Manchester United’s Antony celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Carl Recine Newport 2-3 Man Utd
80. A couple of United changes too.
- OFF: Casemiro & Shaw
- ON: McTominay & Kambwala
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
