Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United survived a major scare against League Two Newport County to win 4-2 at Rodney Parade in the FA Cup fourth round, preserving their chances of winning a trophy this season.
After a brilliant play down the left featuring Antony and the returning Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock 7 minutes in. The visitors were off to a great start, and six minutes later, Kobbie Mainoo scored his first goal as a senior.
Rasmus Hojlund and Fernandes had good looks at goal, but Alejandro Garnacho struck the crossbar. Newport then exacted revenge on their opponents, tying the score when Bryn Morris’ thunderbolt swerved off Lisandro Martinez and past Altay Bayindir, a debutant.
Will Evans, a boyhood United supporter who was a dairy farmer three years prior, stunned his Premier League opponents two minutes into the second half by levelling the score with his 19th goal of the season in response to Adam Lewis’ low cross.
Man United boss Erik Ten Hag said: “First 35 minutes it was very comfortable. It should have been 3-0 or 4-0. They created no chance and then out of nothing – I think also it was a foul – they score.”
“Then straight after half-time, a mistake, ours, defensive transition not great. Then you have to start again to win this game. Finally we did, so, boys, well done.”
Meanwhile United midfielder Bruno Fernandes said:
“We wanted to win, we got it. But the result wasn’t the perfect one for us.”
“The first one, it’s a great goal from them. Unbelievable shot. But after we have to be more focused. In the second half, we can’t concede another goal and let them have some belief.”
“We have to kill the game. In the first half, we hand chances to make 3-0 but because when you get 2-0 in these kinds of games everyone wants to try to score and get their goal, sometimes we don’t get the best decision for the team.”
“After we did a great job to close the game.”
“Our chance to win a trophy this season is the FA Cup and we have to give everything to get into the final. To make the season look not as bad as it’s been, we have to try to win this trophy.”
Manchester United will now face the winners of the replay between Bristol City and Nottingham Forest in the fifth round.
Swindon Town are next up at Rodney Parade for Newport County in League Two on Saturday February 3.
Meanwhile, Manchester United play Wolves back in the Premier League on Thursday February 1.
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