IT WILL literally be a flying visit to the city of his birth for Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis, but he is not taking Newport County AFC lightly.
County forced tomorrow night’s fourth-round replay with a stoppage-time equaliser from Matty Dolan at the Riverside Stadium last month and they have beaten Leicester City and drawn with Tottenham Hotspur at Rodney Parade.
The winner tomorrow will host Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round.
“We know this is a tough game,” said Pulis. “It’s a hard place to go. Spurs and Leicester have gone there and haven’t won the game.
“That says everything about the spirit of the team and atmosphere the crowd will get going in a small ground.
“It’s a proper old-fashioned cup tie. I wouldn’t call it David and Goliath because they have beat a couple of big teams already.
“They have a big incentive. The will be up for it. We have to understand the game.”
Pulis could name a weakened side as he looks ahead to a trip to Leeds United in the Championship on Saturday.
“It’s unfortunate that the FA Cup is played between so many important games but that’s the way the fixtures fall,” said the Boro boss.
“Everything seems to be about bigger competitions now but that’s a shame really, because I still think it is the greatest competition in the world."
“I won’t see much of Newport,” he added. “We fly in, I’ll be in the hotel for an hour, prepare and play the game then fly straight home to get ready for Leeds.
“I won’t be going out into Newport. I won’t be going for a drink or anything like that. I haven’t got time for all that.”
But County manager Michael Flynn will give fellow Pill boy Pulis a warm welcome.
“Tony looked after us really well up there, which I knew he would,” said Flynn. “He’s an outstanding person. He treats people with respect and we’ll do the same for them.
"It won't be as nice as what we had up there, but we'll do our best!"
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