Matt revels in Leicester upset
JAMAICAN STRIKER Jamille Matt said it was a “fantastic feeling” after his powerful early header helped set up League Two Newport County’s shock 2-1 English FA Cup third-round win over visiting Premier League outfit Leicester City on Sunday, describing it as “right at the top”.
Ian Wright, the former Arsenal and England striker who was commentating on the game for BBC One, said: “Jamille Matt was brilliant today. The big man. He was brilliant.”
Asked where he ranked the win in his career, 29-year-old Matt said: “This is right at the top. To score against a Premier League club is massive for us and for Newport because it’s a community, family club. It’s a great, great feeling – I cannot lie.”
It was prolific Matt’s 14th goal of the season in all competitions for the Welsh outfit, who are 13th in League Two and 74 places below Leicester on the league ladder.
Matt limped off in the 77th minute. Five minutes later Newport were pegged back when Rachid Ghezzal levelled, but when a replay seemed likely, Padraig Amond tucked away an 85thminute penalty after winger Marc Albrighton handled a cross.
“I wasn’t at the club when the boys did so well in the Cup runs (in the past), but I’ve heard so much about it, and we wanted to do it again,” said Matt.
“It’s a little bit surreal at the moment. We all fight for each other, and we deserved it. I thought we had a few chances in the first half and we could have gone 2-0 up.
HAD TO KEEP CALM
“But we had to keep calm in the second half because we knew they’d come out and we defended brilliantly. We knew that to get a good result we’d have to be on it one to 11, and ... we were.
“I’m absolutely buzzing for the fans. Absolutely buzzing.”
Matt added: “There’s no point going into the game unless you fancy yourselves. I don’t think Leicester will have played a team like us because we like to mix it up and try different things. The subs were all brilliant when they came on.”
Asked who he wanted in the fourth round, Matt said: “I’m an Arsenal fan, so look no further than that. I’d love to play them at the Emirates (Stadium), or here (Rodney Parade) would be brilliant as well. But any Premier League club would be great, to be honest.”
Born in Jamaica, Matt began his UK career at Sutton Coldfield Town before moving to Kidderminster Harriers in 2010. He spent three seasons at the club, before moving to Fleetwood Town in January 2013.
He signed on loan for Stevenage in November 2015 and for Plymouth Argyle in March 2016. He moved to Blackpool in June 2016 spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Grimsby Town before signing for Newport County in June 2018.
Matt was part of Fleetwood’s 2013-14 team that beat Burton Albion 1-0 in the 2014 Football League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium, seeing Fleetwood promoted into League One for the first time in their history.