COUNTY GO OUT FIGHTING TO CLASSY CITY
NEWPORT County showed grit, determination and character, but Manchester City’s class told in the end as they earned a place in the quarterfinals.
Second-half goals from Leroy Sane, Phil Foden (2) and Riyad Mahrez ensured City’s eventually wion out against opponents 82 places below them on the league ladder.
Padraig Amond maintained his record of scoring in every round for Newport two minutes from time, but hopes of a dramatic comeback were brief as Foden’s second goal and Mahrez finished the job.
City had scored 12 goals without reply against Rotherham United and Burnley to reach the last 16, but it was never going to be as straightforward away to their hosts, who have made a habit of embarrassing bigger clubs.
Newport have beaten Leeds, Leicester and Middlesbrough, as well as drawing with Tottenham at Rodney Parade in the past 14 months and they again emerged with credit for frustrating City for so long.
Even without the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, City’s starting line-up cost around £320m, while Newport’s was a modest £50,000 spent on goalkeeper Joe Day and striker Amond.
The homely surrounds of Rodney Parade would also have been a shock to the system of City’s millionaires, too.
Temporary seating at both ends of the ground had lifted capacity close to 10,000, while a pitch shared with the Dragons and Newport rugby teams was understandably bare in places after being used over 60 times this season.
City, predictably, dominated possession, but the visitors only had to cast their minds back to last season’s fifth-round defeat at Wigan Athletic to know the potential pitfalls.
Mahrez and Fernandinho had early sights of goal, but Pep Guardiola’s pre-match fears about Newport’s setpiece strength manifested themselves after 14 minutes. Jamille Matt flicked on Mickey Demetriou’s towering throw and Tyreeq Bakinson, arriving unmarked at the far post and seemed certain to put himself on the scoresheet. However, Ederson showed incredible reactions to dive to his right and claw the ball to safety.
City continued to probe, with Day twice shovelling out Mahrez efforts and Sane striking the crossbar. That escape saw Newport become only the fifth side this season to deny City from scoring in the first half, but parity lasted only six minutes after the break.
Gabriel Jesus took advantage of Mark O’Brien’s stumble and fed Sane, whose powerful drive went in off the face of Day and left the Newport goalkeeper with a bloodied nose. Newport were now in danger of being hypnotised by City’s passing patterns and Foden advanced unchecked from the halfway line to fire under Day’s body.
Amond gave the home fans a goal to remember when he chipped over Ederson. But hopes of a grandstand finish evaporated as Foden displayed his talents with another run and shot, while Mahrez produced another clinical finish late on.