Manchester United kept their hopes of silverware alive this season as Erik ten Hag’s side overcame a huge scare against League Two Newport County, winning 4-2 at Rodney Parade in the FA Cup fourth round.
Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock following a slick move (7) down the left involving Antony and the returning Luke Shaw before Kobbie Mainoo swept home his first senior goal six minutes later during a strong start for the visitors.
Alejandro Garnacho struck the crossbar when both Rasmus Hojlund and Fernandes were well-placed for a simple finish – and Newport punished their opponents to ignite the tie when Bryn Morris’ thunderbolt deflected off Lisandro Martinez beyond debutant Altay Bayindir.
Boyhood United fan Will Evans, who was a dairy farmer three years ago, met Adam Lewis’ low cross to level proceedings with his 19th goal of the campaign two minutes into the second half to stun their Premier League opponents.
But Antony would finally get off the mark with his 33rd shot of the season – and sixth in the tie – to restore order (68) before Hojlund bundled home from close range (90+4) as United breathed a huge sigh of relief and booked an away tie against either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest in round five.
How Man Utd overcame scare at Newport
Newport County’s Will Evans celebrates making it 2-2
The first competitive game between the two clubs had been billed as the biggest in Newport’s history, with just over 9,000 crammed into modest surroundings for a tie expected to earn the League Two club around £400,000.
Despite the scoreline, this was far from comfortable thanks to the brief flicker of chaos that has punctuated Manchester United’s season.
Ten Hag said his side were not in a position to underestimate any opponent on the eve of this encounter, and the Dutchman confirmed before kick-off that Marcus Rashford’s absence is being treated as “an internal matter” after the forward was photographed out in Belfast earlier this week.
This has been a challenging second season in the hot seat for Ten Hag, whose side languish eighth in the Premier League and were eliminated from European competition before Christmas.
United’s Carabao Cup defence is also long since over, meaning the FA Cup has taken on extra significance as their only potential route to a trophy in a disappointing campaign.
Antony registered a goal and an assist
It was why Ten Hag went so strong with his team selection and witnessed his side race into a two-goal lead inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Fernandes did his best to remove the romance after seven minutes when receiving a ball from Shaw and finding Antony. The Brazilian played an instant return and Fernandes drilled a shot of rare purity past Nick Townsend within the blink of an eye.
County fans, raucous at kick-off, were silenced and left despairing again as Diogo Dalot motored down the right to set up 18-year-old Mainoo, who carefully caressed his finish into the bottom corner.
Garnacho might have made it worse but rattled the crossbar and Antony drifted in from the right flank to force Townsend to tip over.
Bryn Morris celebrates after pulling a goal back
But County’s recent cup pedigree – wins over Leicester and Leeds, as well as holding Tottenham to a Rodney Parade draw in 2018 – and a seven-game unbeaten run put United on notice they could not expect a smooth ride by the banks of the River Usk.
Newport kept Bayindir honest with efforts from Evans and Ryan Delaney, but Morris’ 36th-minute thunderbolt really came out of the blue.
Morris, at Grimsby when the Mariners reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last season, chested the ball down and unleashed from 25 yards to beat Bayindir with the help of a deflection off Martinez.
Antony is congratulated after restoring United’s lead
Townsend denied Fernandes with the final kick of the first half and the importance of that save was underlined within two minutes of the restart.
Striker Evans, who has gone from milking cows on the family farm to scoring FA Cup goals – will replay what happened next over and over again as his instinctive finish hauled Newport level.
Raphael Varane was caught on his heels at the near post as the man from the Powys family farm – rejected at Shrewsbury – stole a march to finish beyond Bayindir. Evans has tasted European football at two Welsh Premiership clubs but having broken into the EFL, it was a moment he will cherish for the rest of his career.
Rasmus Hojlund (left) celebrates scoring the fourth
By now, Newport – 74 places below their visitors in the football pyramid and financial worlds apart – had one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s 152-year history in their sights, but United dug deep and found extra resolve to wrestle back control.
Harry Charsley drove wide, but the visitors retook the lead after 68 minutes as Shaw curled on to a post and Antony slotted the rebound.
Harry Maguire was sent on late to preserve United’s slender lead before Hojlund extended his scoring streak by pouncing on a loose ball and drilling home.
Ten Hag avoids sinking to new low
Newport gave a valiant account of themselves
Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds:
FA Cup glory would be a welcome boost for a club that is preparing to go through a big transition under INEOS, who are set to take control of football operations next month.
Incoming minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a focus on improvements across the board and this competition could provide the platform for under-scrutiny Ten Hag to impress.
United now have a kind-looking fifth-round assignment at either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest, but Ten Hag cannot allow any complacency to seep in.
Graham Coughlan reflects on an FA Cup classic
The return of Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro looked to have brought a calming influence before the chaos while Altay Bayindir looked assured on his debut. But there were very few tangible positives.
Even Antony needed six attempts to get off the mark for the season and United’s troubled season was in danger of sinking to a new low before Hojlund sealed matters in stoppage time.
Ten Hag could almost feel the breath of home supporters standing just yards behind him and while this result does alleviate some of the pressure on him, this result and performance was far from convincing.
Ten Hag: We had to win it twice
Erik ten Hag shakes hands with Harry Maguire
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag told BBC:
“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.”
Fernandes: At 2-0 everyone wanted to try to score
Altay Bayindir is beaten by Evans to make it 2-2
Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes told BBC:
“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.”
What’s next?
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.