Man City next for giant killers
NEWPORT: ‘OUTSTANDING’ AGAINST MIDDLESBROUGH
Wolves, Brentford and QPR also through to the next round.
London
Fourth-tier Newport County will take on Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup after shocking Championship highflyers Middlesbrough 2-0.
Newport were more than worthy of Tuesday’s win as they dominated from start to finish under torrential rain at Rodney Parade and on a mudbath of a pitch that City would not relish.
“It’s nothing more than we deserved, we were outstanding,” said Newport boss Mike Flynn. “They can match Championship players. I don’t know what it is with them. We can play like that but not every week in League Two.”
A penalty appeal for hand ball by Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton was waved away and 40-year-old Greek goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos made a string of saves to keep Tony Pulis’ side level at the break.
However, he could not keep out Robbie Willmott’s strike from outside the box two minutes into the second period and Pádraig Amond fired a well-worked corner in 23 min from time to send Newport into the last-16 for the first time in 70 years.
Pulis said: “They were the better team, they ran all over us. It was men against boys. Forget the conditions, you have to match people and that’s the real disappointment.
“Give them credit, they were fantastic and deserve their win.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers survived another scare from League One Shrewsbury to set up a fifth-round visit to Bristol City with a 3-2 win at Molineux.
Brentford will travel to Swansea for an all-Championship tie after seeing off non-league outfit Barnet 3-1.
And Steve McClaren’s Queen’s Park Rangers will host Watford next after goals from Nahki Wells and Matt Smith saw them beat Portsmouth 2-0. –