Giantkiller Newport to meet Man City
LONDON: Fourthtier Newport County pulled off another FA Cup shock by beating Championship side Middlesbrough 20 in a fourthround replay yesterday to set up a dream tie with Manchester City.
Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers saw off a determined Shrewsbury Town to win 32 at home and will be joined in the fifth round by Queens Park Rangers, who overcame Portsmouth 20.
Nonleague Barnet’s adventure in the competition came to an end as it lost 31 away to fellow London team Brentford.
Newport had knocked out 2016 Premier League champion Leicester City in the third round and was set on its way to another giantkilling when Robbie Wilmott struck two minutes into the second half on a soggy Welsh pitch.
Irish striker Padraig Amond doubled the lead 20 minutes later with a magnificent goal as he swivelled to meet a corner and curled the ball high into the net with one touch.
The goal sparked wild celebrations as Newport, 14th in League 2, reached the fifth round for the first time since 1949.
It was an unforgettable night for their goalkeeper, Joe Day, whose wife went into labour during the game.
The 28yearold was seen running off the Rodney Parade pitch at the final whistle.
Newport manager Michael Flynn revealed the ‘‘fully focused’’ goalkeeper turned off his phone before the match but asked to leave the ground as soon as the 90 minutes were up.
‘‘I don’t know if she’s gone into labour but the way he sprinted off, I’d say there’s a very good chance . . . ,’’ Flynn said.
‘‘As soon as the whistle went, he ran up to me and said could he go. I said, ‘Of course you can. Do you want a lift?’ ’’
Wolves took an early lead against thirdtier Shrewsbury through Matt Doherty but then fell 21 behind before Doherty levelled just before the interval.
Portuguese Ivan Cavaleiro struck in the second half to win the tie and set up a fifthround game at Bristol City.
QPR will next host fellow London side Watford, and Brentford will visit Swansea.
A Andy Robertson believes Liverpool is experiencing no more than a ‘‘blip’’ in its pursuit of the English Premier League title and has dismissed suggestions the pressure of being league leader is starting to tell.
The Reds were perhaps fortunate to come away with a 11 draw from Tuesday’s clash with West Ham and the four points it has dropped in its last two games means what could have been a sevenpoint lead over Manchester City is instead only three.
At both the London Stadium and in drawing at home Leicester, Liverpool has struggled for the fluency that had taken it to the top of the table, suggesting it could be at risk of throwing away its advantage, just as it did in losing the title to City five years ago.
Robertson believes the loss of the injured Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander Arnold is having an influence, but feels he and his teammates are primed to respond.
‘‘I wouldn’t say nerves are showing,’’ the 24yearold said.
‘‘Did anyone say that when City dropped points against [Crystal] Palace and Leicester [in December]? I don’t think they did. It’s no different for us — people talk about pressure because we’ve not been in this position, but it’s February.
‘‘Everyone needs to relax and try and enjoy the runin.
‘‘Many other clubs want to be in the position we’re in just now. Nerves aren’t showing in the changing room. It’s been two poor results and poor performances; it happens during a long season. We need to get back to playing the better football we can, but it’s nothing to do with nerves.
‘‘We’re having a wee blip and we need to just try and get over the line in a couple of games. The runin will be exciting, but it’s time to try and enjoy it.
Liverpool midfielder Alex OxladeChamberlain has received another boost as he returns to fitness after he was included in its Champions League squad for the knockout phase. — BPA