Man Utd survive FA Cup scare

Manchester United survived a major FA Cup scare from Newport County as Antony’s first goal this season inspired a dramatic 4-2 victory over the fourth-tier minnows on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag’s side were in danger of falling victim to an epic giant-killing after blowing a two-goal lead at Rodney Parade.

Bruno Fernandes put United ahead and Kobbie Mainoo’s first goal for the club doubled their lead in the first half of the fourth round clash.

But Bryn Morris pulled one back for plucky Newport — currently 16th in League Two — before Will Evans rocked United with his second half equaliser.

With United wobbling, Antony was their unlikely saviour as the Brazil forward bagged his first goal since April after a difficult campaign marred by poor form and domestic violence allegations that he denies.

Rasmus Hojlund put a flattering gloss on the scoreline for United when he netted in stoppage-time.

United’s victory came on another problematic day for Ten Hag, who had to fend off reports of a row with Marcus Rashford.

Ten Hag, whose side are languishing in eighth place in the Premier League and have been eliminated from the Champions League, explained Rashford’s absence from the team by saying he had “reported ill”.

However, reports claimed the 26-year-old England forward had been in a nightclub in Northern Ireland on Thursday evening, hours before failing to attend training on Friday.

Asked specifically about that Ten Hag said, “It’s an internal matter. I will deal with it.”

All the ingredients for a shock were there, given United’s spluttering form this term and Newport’s past FA Cup heroics.

A raucous crowd, some waving homemade tinfoil FA Cups, crammed into the tiny, ramshackle stadium in the hope of witnessing history.

Temporary seating was added to accomodate demand for tickets, while enterprising fans climbed on scaffolding outside the ground to catch the action.

Newport memorably knocked Leicester out of the FA Cup in 2019, but initially it seemed United would easily avoid becoming another victim of the FA Cup’s rich history of upsets.

On the ropes

Ten Hag had taken no chances as he named a strong side featuring all United’s key players.

A flowing move produced United’s opener in the seventh minute as Luke Shaw’s pass was deftly flicked into Fernandes’s path by Antony and the Portugal midfielder finished with authority from the edge of the area.

Mainoo doubled United’s lead in the 13th minute, sweeping his shot into the far corner from 10 yards after Diogo Dalot picked out the young midfielder.

United looked set to win by a huge margin when Alejandro Garnacho sprinted onto Lisandro Martinez’s raking pass and lashed his shot off the crossbar.

But the underdogs reduced the deficit completely against the run of play in the 36th minute.

Morris pounced on a loose ball 25 yards from goal and smashed a superb volley that took a deflection off Martinez before looping past debutant keeper Altay Bayindir into the far corner.

United should have been out of sight by half-time but chances came and went, the most glaring when Nick Townsend plunged to his right to deny Fernandes.

In the 47th minute, Adam Lewis’s cross arrowed towards Evans and the forward got there just ahead of Raphael Varane, meeting it with a flick that deflected in off the United defender’s boot.

It was a dream come true for Evans, an ex-farmer and teacher who only two years ago was playing in the Welsh leagues.

United were on the ropes but Newport couldn’t deliver the knockout blow and Ten Hag’s men regained the lead in the 68th minute.

Shaw cleverly dragged the ball back to create space for a shot that cannoned off the post to Antony, who calmly slotted into the empty net.

To Ten Hag’s immense relief, Hojlund finished from close-range after a goal-mouth scramble to end any chance of late embarrassment.

Man City handed Luton tie in FA Cup, Maidstone face Championship opponents

FA Cup holders Manchester City will travel to Luton in the FA Cup fifth round, while non-league giant-killers Maidstone face Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry.

Treble winners City won 1-0 at Tottenham in the fourth round thanks to Nathan Ake’s late goal on Friday.

Pep Guardiola’s side now head to Kenilworth Road to take on a Luton team that won 2-1 at Everton on Saturday.

Maidstone pulled off one of the great upsets in FA Cup history by winning 2-1 at Championship high-fliers Ipswich on Saturday.

The sixth-tier National League South club are the lowest ranked side left in the competition.

They will now travel to another Championship side to face the winners of the replay between Wednesday and Coventry in the last 16.

Maidstone have already beaten two other league clubs in the FA Cup this season, having knocked out Barrow and Stevenage.

Newcastle face a trip to the winners of Monday’s tie between Blackburn and Wrexham.

The winner of the replay between Chelsea and Aston Villa, who drew 0-0 on Friday, will host Leeds or Plymouth.

Brighton travel to Wolves and Bournemouth entertain Championship leaders Leicester.

Chasing silverware in Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge, Liverpool, 5-2 winners against Norwich on Sunday, will face Watford or Southampton, who played out a 1-1 draw.

The winners of the replay between Bristol City and Nottingham Forest host Manchester United, who survived blowing a two-goal lead in their 4-2 victory at fourth-tier minnows Newport on Sunday.

Fifth round draw:

Blackburn or Wrexham v Newcastle

Chelsea or Aston Villa v Leeds or Plymouth

Bournemouth v Leicester

Liverpool v Watford or Southampton

Bristol City or Nottingham Forest v Manchester United

Wolves v Brighton

Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry v Maidstone United

Luton v Manchester City