Newport County 2, Manchester United 4 (FA Cup Fourth Round)
Antony scored his first goal of the season to spare Manchester United’s blushes as they beat Newport County in their FA Cup tie.
Embed from Getty ImagesBruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo got Manchester United off to a flying start in Wales and United really should have put the Newport County tie to bed in the first half.
Alejandro Garnacho hit the crossbar when it looked easier to square the ball to either Fernandes or Rasmus Hojlund.
And that opened the door to goals by Bryn Morris and Will Evans to bring the Exiles back to parity where they held out for over 20 minutes before Antony put United back into the lead for the final quarter of the game but it was still touch and go until Rasmus Hojlund ended the Welsh resistance in injury time.
It was the first time that the Reds had conceded two or more goals to a lower division side since February 1996 against Sunderland let alone from a fourth tier side (February 1970 against Northampton Town).
Marcus Rashford was missing wirth ‘illness’ from the United match day squad while Altay Bayindir handed his debut for the Reds at Rodney Parade and Casemiro was making his first start for United since October. Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez also started for United on their returns from injury.
United manager Erik Ten Hag commented on Rashford’s absence as ”an internal matter” and that he would ”deal with it“ – potential reference to the England man’s recent night out in Belfast.
In all, there were five changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Spurs a fortnight ago.
Bayindir, Shaw, Martinez, Casemiro, and Antony came into the side while Andre Onana, Jonny Evans, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Christian Eriksen, and Rashford missed.
And Newport County were soon disabused of any ideas of a Cup upset when United scored twice within 13 minutes.
Six minutes into the game Bruno Fernandes drove a low strike in after exchanging passes with Antony after Luke Shaw started a move down the left flank.
Antony blazed over before 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo opened his United account after 13 minutes with a sweet finish from 15 yards out after Diogo Dalot cut the ball back to him.
Alejandro Garnacho struck the crossbar with Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund waiting for a square across the area.
Bayindir made his first save after 24 minutes when Will Evans’ low shot came at him quickly.
Ryan Delaney bravely blocked Antony’s attempt to score his first goal of the season while Townsend tipped over a rising shot from the Brazilian.
And at the other end Delaney’s header also drew a save from Bayindir before Bryn Morris halved the deficit after 36 minutes with a stunning strike from 25 yards which looped off the head of Martinez to defeat Bayindir in mid air.
The home side were resurgent but couldn’t grab an equaliser and in fact Fernandes should have restored the two goal lead but his shot was saved by Nick Townsend on the stroke of half time.
Will Evans equaliser gives Newport County hope before superior Manchester United survive scare to score late goals and win
And the Reds regretted Garnacho’s greed when Evans did equalise two minutes after the restart, getting to Aaron Lewis’ cross into the area ahead of Raphael Varane.
The home fans sang that United manager Erik Ten Hag would be “sacked in the morning”
Antony kept the ball in play but Fernandes’ resulting shot was saved by Townsend while Delaney’s header was well saved by Bayindir.
Martinez’ shot hit Hojlund and went wide after Luke Shaw’s searching cross fell to him as United sought to retake the lead.
Luke Shaw’s curled right foot shot came back off the back post and Antony was at hand to tuck away the rebound in the 68th minute – his first goal of the season for the Reds.
Fernandes was blocked by Delaney again while Townsend saved from Garnacho as Newport hung on.
Scott McTominay was brought on for Casemiro after 81 minutes while Luke Shaw was replaced by Willy Kambwala.
There was a brief stoppage for a medical emergency in the crowd after which Harry Maguire and Omari Forson were introduced for Antony and Lisandro Martinez.
Evans drove a long range effort wide as the game went into nine minutes of added time.
Morris won another corner and Bayindir got Evans’ header from that set piece.
But in the fourth minute of stoppage time Forson’s shot was saved by Townsend and Hojlund poked the rebound into the empty net after he charged down James Clarke’s attempted clearance.