In freezing temperatures, non-league side Eastleigh’s FA Cup adventure came to an end with Newport County set for a fourth round tie with Manchester United in two weeks.
The National League side had played out a 1-1 draw with Newport in the third round earlier this month, meaning that they would welcome the League Two outfit to the Silverlake Stadium for a place in the next round after being promised a glamour tie with United.
Tonight’s replay went Newport’s way after a 3-1 win as Eastleigh missed out on a dream tie with the Reds.
Newport currently sit 17th in League Two and their manager Graham Coughlan was quick to play down the next round’s massive subtext.
Coughlan said (via The Guardian): “Let’s not start having this pantomime of Manchester United and finances and all sorts of nonsense. It’s a game of football. Club against club. Team against team. This is where we are, nothing more, nothing less.”
One interesting stat to take with you to the game is it is the first time Newport will have played United in their history.
United will be expected to progress in the FA Cup and it’s a competition that Erik ten Hag’s job could be reliant on. The Reds reached the final last season only to lose to rivals Man City.
Ten Hag’s men won 2-0 away at Wigan Athletic in the last of the 32 third-round matches, thanks to goals from Portuguese duo Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes.
Our fourth-round trip to Newport will be played on Sunday 28 January, kicking off at 16:30.
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