Newport County 2-4 Manchester United: Visitors squeak into FA Cup fifth round after huge fright

Manchester United were given a scare by Newport, tossing a two-goal lead for the third time this season, before goals from Antony and Rasmus Hojlund earned them an FA Cup fifth-round tie at either Nottingham Forest or Bristol City after a terrifically exciting encounter.

United began well and went in front on seven minutes, Bruno Fernandes drilling home at the end of a fine move. And they soon doubled their advantage, Kobbie Mainoo seeping home his first goal in senior football, and with just 13 minutes gone, the tie looked over.

But United were wasteful thereafter and on 36 minutes, Bryn Morris clobbered home a tremendous livener, the ball taking a slight deflection off Lisandro Martinez on its way in. Then two minutes into the second half, Will Evans stole a march on Raphael Varane and equalised to send Rodney Parade into raptures.

But United composed and eventually forged back in front when Antony scored for the first time since April 2023, before Hojlund ended the game four minutes into injury-time, doing well to battle his way through before finishing smartly.

There are many reasons why Manchester United have been so poor this season, and many of them are not the fault of Erik ten Hag. But his key players are now, for the first time this season, all fit, and if there is not a marked improvement between now and the end of May, he will do well to be in post thereafter.

In particular, he will be pleased to have Lisandro Martinez back, his defensive organiser and playmaker. And with Luke Shaw also back, United should be much more able to work the ball forward quickly; he immediately linked well with Alejandro Garnacho.

But it is in midfield that they've lacked most, unable to control games regardless of the three players picked. But Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, Ten Hag's preferred trio, had not played together before today. So United should now improve - if they do not, their manager will have a problem.

Scored the first, made the second, the best player on the pitch.

Newport County: Townsend 6, McLoughlin 6, Clarke 6, Bennett 7, Delaney 6, Lewis 7, Wildig 5, Charsley 6, Morris 7, Palmer-Houlden 5, Evans 8. Subs: Payne 6, Waite 6, Rai 6, Baker 6, Wood 6.

Manchester United: Bayindir 6, Dalot 6, Varane 6, Martinez 7, Shaw 7, Mainoo 7, Casemiro 6, Fernandes 8, Antony 7, Hojlund 6, Garnacho 7. Subs: McTominay 6, Kambwala 6, Forson 6, Maguire 6, Evans 6.

7’ - GOAL! Newport 0-1 Man Utd (Fernandes): This is a fine finish, Shaw feeing into Bruno, who allows the ball across his body and glances a lovely ball outside him for Antony, for someone reason on the left. He cut back and, from the edge of the box, Bruno drills a terrific low shot inside the near post.

13’ - GOAL! Newport 0-2 Man Utd (Mainoo): Another lovely finish and it's Mainoo's first in senior football. Dalot runs at Clarke, chucks a few lollipops, then cuts back and, using the pace already on the ball, Mainoo sweeps a lovely outswinger low into the far corner. He is going to be a superstar. .

36’ - OH MY DAAAAAYS WHAT A GOAL! Newport 1-2 Man Utd (Morris): Townsend humps long, Casemiro heads, and Morris, 25 yards out, chests down and leaps into a stupendous hit that shrieks past Bayindir and slams into the far side-netting, three yards up! Incredible!

47’ - GOAL! Newport 2-2 Man Utd (Evans): OH MY DAYS! NEWPORT ARE LEVEL! Newport build, Evans involved, and Wildig switches. Lewis crosses and Evans attacks the near post, getting across Varane, and pokes home. Man, the FA Cup is something else.

68’ - GOAL! Newport 2-3 Man Utd (Antony): This is a really good goal. Martinez into Bruno, who lofts a great ball out to Antony. He slides across to Shaw, who diddles his man, comes inside... and curls a lovely right-footed curler on to the far post, Antony adjusting feet really well to tuck home a right-footed volley.

90+4’ - GOAL! Newport 2-4 Man Utd (Hojlund): Fernandes finds McTominay, who plays a good pass forward to Garnacho. He slides in Forson, the keeper smothers his error, and Hojlund kicks through a challenge and pokes home well. That's a good striker's goal, and game over.

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