After progressing to the fourth round of the FA Cup, a clash with League 2 Newport County awaited, as United made the trip away. While United went in strong with their XI, they made harder work of the victory as most would have expected, and Newport pushed themselves almost back into the game until United took control of the tie in the end.

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Teams

Newport County: Townsend, Lewis (Payne 70′), Delaney, Bennett (Baker 79′), Clarke, McLoughlin, Wildig (Rai 78′), Charsley (Waite 78′), Morris, Houlden (Wood 90′), Evans

Subs: Maxted, Jameson, Bondswell, Zanzala

Manchester United: Bayindir, Shaw (Kambwala 82′), Martinez (Maguire 89′), Varane (Evans 90′), Dalot, Casemiro (McTominay 81′), Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Antony (Forson 88′), Hojlund

Subs: Heaton, Amad, Eriksen, Pellistri

Newport County 2-4 Manchester United

From the first whistle, Manchester United looked sharp and in control at Rodney Parade. Inside the opening 13 minutes, the visitors raced into a 2–0 lead: Bruno Fernandes fired a low finish beyond the Newport keeper after a slick build-up, and just six minutes later youngster Kobbie Mainoo calmly slotted home his first senior goal for the club. United seemed set to breeze into the next round, controlling possession and creating chances early on.

But Newport, a team from League Two, responded with spirit and belief. In the 36th minute Bryn Morris curled in a thunderous strike to halve the deficit, and then, moments after the break, Will Evans volleyed home to level the tie at 2–2. The home crowd erupted, and for a while it genuinely felt like a major FA Cup upset might be on the cards as Newport pushed forward with intensity.

United’s quality ultimately told in the end. Midway through the second half, Antony reacted with composure to steer in a rebound, restoring the lead for the Reds. Then, deep in stoppage time, Rasmus Højlund bundled in a late goal to seal the 4–2 victory and ensure United’s passage to the fifth round. Despite the scare, United progressed, while Newport earned widespread respect for a valiant and spirited performance.

Talking Points

Manchester United started strongly, quickly asserting dominance at Rodney Parade. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring with a precise low strike, followed shortly by Kobbie Mainoo’s composed finish, giving the visitors a comfortable 2–0 lead inside the first 15 minutes. United controlled possession and looked to dictate the pace, with their attacking midfielders and wingers linking up effectively to create multiple chances early on.

Newport County, however, showcased remarkable resilience. Bryn Morris struck a spectacular goal before halftime to pull one back, and Will Evans volleyed home just after the break to level the score at 2–2. The League Two side’s energy and direct attacking style briefly unsettled United, creating a tense period in the game where an FA Cup upset seemed possible and the home crowd sensed a historic moment.

Ultimately, United’s quality and experience proved decisive. Antony restored the lead with a calm finish from a rebound, and Rasmus Højlund sealed the 4–2 win deep into stoppage time. While Manchester United advanced to the fifth round, the match highlighted both their vulnerability under pressure and Newport’s impressive determination, marking a thrilling FA Cup encounter full of goals, drama, and memorable moments for both sides.