Newport vs Manchester City preview: Michael Flynn aiming for FA Cup shock
Saturday 16 February 2019 07:41, UK
Newport manager Michael Flynn says beating Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday would represent the biggest shock in the history of the competition.
Newport are 82 places below Premier League leaders City in the football pyramid, but Flynn believes his team can add Pep Guardiola's side to the list of recent triumphs that includes Leeds, Leicester and Middlesbrough.
"If we win this, whether it's extra-time or penalties and I don't care how we do it, it will be the biggest shock in FA Cup history," Flynn said at his pre-match press conference. "I say that with the biggest respect to other big giant-killings.
"My reasons for that are because of the sheer gulf in finances, the quality of the players Man City have, the level they are playing at, and that they have the best manager in the world right now. So for those reasons it will be the biggest shock the FA Cup has ever seen."
Guardiola is not expecting a walk in the park at Rodney Parade either, saying Manchester City could "suffer" against the Sky Bet League Two opponents.
"They've done incredible in this competition," he said. "They won against Leicester and Middlesbrough. What they do, they do it really well. We've watched as many games as possible to understand what they do. We respect them a lot.
"We are going to suffer because they are taller and stronger than us. In some areas, they are better than us.
"We have to try to bring our game in the way we are stronger than them. Which team controls these areas, or brings their own game, in that moment will have the advantage to go through.
"If we just expect, because they are in a lower division, it will be easy, we would make a big mistake. We will take it seriously and we know how tough it will be, from the first minute until the end."
Team news
Mark O'Brien and Joss Labadie should be fit to play for Newport, although new signing Ade Azeez is cup tied.
Manchester City are again without Vincent Kompany and Benjamin Mendy. Captain Kompany is still troubled by a muscle problem and City are not taking any risks with left-back Mendy's knee.
Guardiola has promised to take the tie seriously and name a strong side. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo (Achilles) remains a long-term absentee.
Opta stats
This will be the first ever FA Cup meeting between Newport and Man City, and the first meeting of any kind since a League Cup tie in October 1962 (Newport 1-2 Man City).
Manchester City have won all three of their previous meetings with Newport County in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 10-2. They've not met since 1962, however.
This is only Newport County's second appearance in the FA Cup fifth round - they lost their previous such match back in February 1949 (2-3 vs Portsmouth).
Manchester City have won their two FA Cup games this season by an aggregate score of 12-0. However, they've won just one of their last six FA Cup away games against sides from a lower division (D4 L1), losing their last such game against Wigan.
Newport's Padraig Amond has scored five goals in his last eight FA Cup appearances, netting in the first, second, third and fourth rounds this season.
Despite playing just two games, no side has had more different goalscorers in the FA Cup this season than Manchester City (9, level with AFC Wimbledon).
Merson's prediction
I expect Man City to win. I do not think it will be a 5-0, 6-0 job. The pitch is atrocious and I think it will be a lot harder.
The games that City have won teams have had chances. The pitch will not be great at Newport and they will not be able to pass it around like they usually do. They will make it difficult and it will be a hard game. City will have too much in the end. I saw Leicester open Newport up enough times.
MERSE PREDICTS: 0-3 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
