Manchester United 4-2 Newport County (28 Jan, 2024) Game Analysis

Twelve-time FA Cup winners Manchester United surrendered a two-goal lead before escaping Rodney Parade with a 4-2 victory over Welsh Fourth Division side Newport County.

Antony scored in the 68th minute for last year's FA Cup runners-up Manchester United after Newport – ranked 76 places below United in the English football pyramid – clawed their way back from two goals down.

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We controlled the game, maybe we were a little bit slower,” United manager Erik ten Hag told the BBC. “We were lucky to go 3-0. [Alejandro] Garnacho hit the crossbar. [Newport] There was nothing, really nothing and then they scored a goal.”

Bruno Fernandes, 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund also scored for United, who conceded two goals in an FA Cup match against a fourth-tier team for the first time since 1970 (against Northampton Town).

Obviously it wasn't the result we wanted, we got the win we wanted but the result wasn't perfect for us. We didn't want to concede goals,” United captain Fernandes said .

“We know that for the season not to be as bad as it has been, we have to try and win this trophy… we know how much the FA Cup means to our fans, to our club, to the country and it's important for us too. We want to get to the final and win.”

Goals from Bryn Morris and Will Evans either side of half-time gave Newport real hope of winning a lucrative replay at Old Trafford, but ultimately the Premier League side's firepower proved too much strong.

Newport manager Graham Coughlan told the BBC: “The better team won, they were clinical when they had their opportunity.

“At 2-2 the ball goes off the post and falls to Antony. I thought at 2-2 we could possibly force a repeat if we could weather the storm. The class helped them.”

United will face either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest in the fifth round, depending on who wins the February 7 replay.