END OF THE ROAD, BUT COUNTY CAN HOLD THEIR HEADS HIGH
THE road ends here for Newport County’s FA Cup dream, but boss Mike Flynn, and indeed the club’s magnificent fans have every right to hold their heads high after this brave defeat to the Premier League champions.
Some 80-odd places separated the Exiles and Manchester City in the domestic football pyramid heading into this one, but for 50 minutes or so, they succeeded where the mighty Chelsea coudn’t and kept Pep Guardiola’s galaxy of stars out.
Indeed, Maurizio Sarri’s men had conceded four goals in the time it took for Leroy Sane to finally break the deadlock at a rocking Rodney Parade, which duly lapped up an absolutely pulsating feast of cup football.
The entire place would have been sent into the stratosphere midway through the first half had Tyreeq Bakinson’s close-range header not been kept out, but ending their first fifth round appearance in 70 years with victory was always going to be a big ask.
While star striker Sergio Aguero was left at home, Guardiola named a very strong side for this one as Flynn stuck with the team that saw off Middlesbrough in round four, although this understandably proved a very different test.
Sane fired a warning of what was to come by lashing an effort against the crossbar, while Mark O’Brien was perhaps a little lucky not to give away a penalty for handball just before the break.
But ultimately, City’s class told in the end, with Sane’s shot just after half-time too powerful for goalkeeper Joe Day to keep out, before Phil Foden doubled the lead with a brilliant individual effort.
Padraig Amond kept up his proud record of scoring in every round with an incredible lob over Ederson, but Foden earned his second just moments later before Riyad Mahrez added gloss to a deserved win.
Much had been made about the pitch ahead of this clash, which was once again a million miles away from the sort of carpet surfaces that City will have been used to in the bright lights of the Premier League.
But if the pitch didn’t leave the visitors feeling out of place then the prematch show from local heroes Goldie Lookin’ Chain definitely did, at least judging by the face of the onlooking visiting goalkeeper Ederson. Magic of the cup, eh? When the Brazilian snuffed out an early half-chance for Jamille Matt, the 9,000 or so fans jammed into Rodney Parade nearly took the roof off the place.
That’s not to say City, who made seven changes from that demolition of Chelsea last weekend, were neces- sarily as rattled as some of the home faithful would have liked. Mahrez flashed an effort across goal before Fernadinho hit a speculative drive wide.
The visitors predictably dominated possession for much of the first half, but County’s success in this competition has seldom been built on such technicalities.
Guardiola had warned about the threat of Newport in the set-piece before this clash and, sure enough a simple Regan Poole throw into the box caused panic to leave Bakinson free at the far post, only for for his stooping header to be kept out brilliantly by a sprawling Ederson.
Naturally, City hit back, with Mahrez forcing a couple of smart saves from goalkeeper Joe Day, before Sane clattered an angled drive off the post following a neat one-two with David Silva.
Newport survived a penalty shout from City just before half-time as Sane’s goalbound effort looked to have been blocked by the hand of skipper O’Brien, only for Andre Marriner to wave away any appeals.
County started brightly after the restart, with some good defending from John Stones ensuring that Matt couldn’t get a shot away.
It was a nervy moment for City, but ultimately their class shone through.
A lovely touch allowed Gabriel Jesus to bring it down on the left to feed Sane, whose rocket of a shot was too powerful for County goalkeeper Day and bounced into the net.
Day had to be alert to prevent City doubling their lead, producing a fine save to deny Danilo, who also hit the post as City piled on the pressure.
And they were rewarded for their efforts 15 minutes from time as Foden cut inside to shoot low and hard past Day and put an enthralling tie to bed.
Amond gave the home fans something to shout about with a lovely lob late on, but Newport were pinned back almost instantly courtesy of another fine effort from Foden.
The lively Mahrez then added gloss to the victory, netting with a smartlytaken angled finish to bring Newport’s cup dream to an undeservedly cruel end.