YOU’VE GOT A NERVE, CHRIS!
No jitters at all for Maguire from the spot to earn replay
EASTLEIGH saviour Chris Maguire claims the National League side will be favourites to see off League Two Newport County in next week’s third-round replay.
The 34-year-old former Scotland international earned the 10-man Spitfires, who dumped out League One Reading in round two, a place in tonight’s fourth-round draw with a coolly struck penalty eight minutes from time.
The visitors were up against it at Rodney Parade once defender George Langston was shown a straight red card for an elbow on Harry Charsley seven minutes before the half-time break.
And when James Clarke converted Shane McLoughlin’s corner in the 56th minute, there appeared to be only one outcome to the tie.
But Eastleigh and Maguire, who had earlier crashed a shot against the post, had other ideas and they were rewarded for their bold approach when Clarke was adjudged to have fouled Paul McCallum in the box. Maguire insists he did not feel the pressure in front of 1,000 travelling fans (circle).
“I didn’t feel any nerves at all; it’s something I’ve done throughout my career and my record is pretty good from the penalty spot,” said the former Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday forward. “It was a big moment for us to get back into the game and to get a replay. “I think we fancy our chances at home. We’ll be confident after that. Credit to the boys, we showed great fighting spirit, and we were backed by our fans.
“We gave them that result to take away with them and we’re still in the cup. We’ve had a good run in the cup, and we want that to continue. “We’re still in it and we’ll look forward to the draw. “Who knows? It could be a big draw and that will obviously spur us on in the replay.” Newport centre-back Clarke went from hero to zero as the joy of his first goal of the season was cancelled out by the pain of conceding the penalty.
“I thought it was a foul on me, and I think everyone else in the ground probably did,” said the 34-year-old. “It’s one of those things, unfortunately sometimes those decisions go against you.
“We’ve just got to go down there and do the job in the replay. When you’re on top, you’ve got to score. I was happy to get the goal, but it wasn’t enough on the day.”
The inability to kill off the tie against 10 men left Exiles boss Graham Coughlan frustrated.
“We should be sitting at home all comfortable next Tuesday night, and instead we have to travel to Eastleigh,” he said.
“We could have sat behind the ball, but we went after the second.
“And that’s the way I want the team to play.”
NEWPORT: Townsend 6, Baker 6, Clarke 6 (Rai 87), Delaney 6, Payne 7 (Bondswell 66, 6), Bennett 6, Morris 6, Charsley 6 (Waite 66, 6), McLoughlin 7, Evans 5, Palmer-Houlden 5 (Wildig 87)
EASTLEIGH: McDonnell 6, Boldewijn 7, Langston 3, Hodson 5 (Francillette 46, 6), Croll 7, Clements 6 (Clampin 76, 6), Maguire 8, N Atangana 6 (S Nwabuokei 76, 5), J Taylor 6 (J Harris 75, 5), P McCullum 6, S Quigley 6