Battling Newport earn plaudits from Pep

– Manchester City powered into the FA Cup quarterfinals as the Premier League leaders survived a battling display from Newport County to beat the fourth-tier minnows 4-1 on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side didn’t have an easy ride in a full-blooded fifth-round tie against a team 82 places below them in League Two.

Troubled by the rutted Rodney Parade pitch, City were indebted to Ederson for a superb save to keep them level during a lacklustre first-half display.

City eventually hit their stride in the second half and Leroy Sane’s powerful finish put them ahead before Phil Foden (right) doubled the lead.

Newport refused to surrender and Padraig Amond’s late goal could have set up a tense finale, only for Foden to net again 79 seconds later before Riyad Mahrez wrapped up the win.

“It was a really tough game. We opened the scoring and believed it was done. They showed us how incredible they are and a big compliment for them,” Guardiola said.

“The home crowd was amazing, and winning here, I understand English football today better than ever and how tough the cup is in these conditions.”

With their Champions League last-16 first leg against Schalke to come on Wednesday, followed by the League Cup final against Chelsea, Guardiola made seven changes to the side which hammered Chelsea 6-0 last weekend.

“You play League Two, then Champions League. You have to change mentality and that means a lot to grow as a team. The big mistake is believing you are better than anyone,” Guardiola said.

“United were praised and people said they were better than PSG, but you see what happened.”

The gulf between the clubs is enormous, with Newport’s squad costing just £50 000 and City’s totalling £450 million.

But Newport had already knocked out Premier League side Leicester and Championship outfit Middlesbrough in the previous two rounds.

Brighton moved into the quarterfinals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Frank Lampard’s Derby.

Championship strugglers Millwall are also through to the quarterfinals after a 1-0 win at third tier AFC Wimbledon. – AFP