It’s been a bumpy, unsettling journey for Erik ten Hag, long after the Manchester United boss negotiated more issues over Marcus Rashford’s apparent indiscipline. Ten Hague said the absence of Rashford, who was not in the Manchester United squad for the flight to Cardiff, was conspicuous due to an internal matter, days after the striker reported illness in training, reportedly in Belfast Hours after being photographed at a nightclub.
On the pitch, a United side that cost more than £400m to build survived a huge scare against a brave and defiant Newport County side, 76 places below them in the pyramid and dominated by Rangers Made up of wanderers and wanderers.
Newport trailed 2-0 inside 13 minutes, with killer finishes from Bruno Fernandez and Coby Manu in almost identical moves, but Newport fought hard to ensure a fascinating encounter. The game looked anticlimactic after all until the 36th minute, when Bryn Morris’ long-range shot was blocked by Lisandro Martinez. Newport guarantees everything, however.
When was the last time they achieved something from two goals down? Boxing Day, except the opponent is a Forest Green Rovers team facing relegation to non-league and arguably not the most famous club in the world, having won the competition 12 times. Newport manager Graham Coughlan is a Manchester United fanatic who played in several finals and invited Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to score while on his UEFA B license. He reminded his players at halftime to keep their spirits up. “We gave ourselves a little bit of hope,” Coughlan said later.
This optimism is well-placed. Just two minutes into the second half, the crumbling stadium was boiling. Newport erected a temporary stand to accommodate an extra 1,000 supporters, boosting the noise and increasing capacity to almost 10,000. Those who couldn’t buy tickets took creative measures. Several townhouses on Rodney Road overlook the pitch at one end of the Compeed Stand, creating space for around two dozen supporters to sit on a makeshift scaffolding viewing platform Watch the game.
When Will Evans was milking cows part-time on his parents’ farm in mid-Wales, it was those supporters and those on the expanded North Terrace who took the best when the place exploded seats. Adam Lewis delivered a wicked low cross from the left. Lewis, Liverpool’s on-loan left-wing-back who went to school with Trent Alexander-Arnold, has undoubtedly enjoyed every second of the disaster.
Suddenly it looked like United had been shot, their early buffer a distant memory, with the home fans cheering every block of Newport and cheering United on every wrong move. Altay Bayindil made his debut and passed the ball directly in the game. “Newport County puts on a show wherever we go,” was the chant that played on loop on the patio. “I thought we had found them,” Coughlan said. “I was dreaming. At 2-2, they were panicked and their approach was a little uncharacteristic. We just need a few more magical moments.”
Coughlan shook his head in disbelief after the warm-up. Before the first whistle, Newport’s players – many of whom were also childhood United fans, including captain Ryan Delaney and long-time defender Scott Bennett – lined up The platoon shook hands with United teammates and the home players hugged each other. They held their children in their arms and reiterated that these one-time occasions were deeper than the locker room walls. Bennett and goalkeeper Nick Townsend have tasted Newport’s appetite for giant-killing before – they made life uncomfortable for City here in 2019 – and now they’ve done it again. As the stadium announcer shouted moments before kick-off: “It’s fair to say Newport is on the map.”
In the 64th minute, Townsend required treatment and play was paused, giving Coughlan a chance to pass on some instructions and let his players take the field to breathe. This week, Coughlan emphasized the need to press United’s midfield at all times. Morris Morris and Aaron Verdig, both on free transfers, have enjoyed a run-in with five-time Champions League winners Casemiro and Fernandes, who have signed for a combined £117m. Ten Hag must have felt a wave of relief when United regained the lead through Anthony four minutes later. Luke Shaw cut inside with his right foot and hit Townsend’s left post with a shot, but Anthony grabbed the rebound on the court.
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Coughlan cherished the few minutes he spent with Ten Witches after the game, even though the Dutchman didn’t do all his homework. “He congratulated us and thanked us as a club for the hospitality,” Coughlan said. “I just told him to carry on… we have to show resilience and character at this club and he has to do the same. I wished him all the best. He gave me a small bottle of red wine… but please don’t tell him I don’t drink it. wine.”
Newport finished 16th in League Two, earning themselves and Pyramid honours. Newport’s squad was puny compared to United’s and the game wasn’t really over until the final whistle when Hojlund’s shot rebounded from the right spot in the 94th minute after substitute Omari Forson was blocked. A testament to their no-holds-barred performance. Newport substitute James Waite forced Bayindil into a fingertip save with a minute remaining. United will have to work hard to get the job done.
“This group represents me: I will never wave the white flag and neither will they,” Coughlan said.
