Newport's track record should make Manchester United nervous

The Exiles returned to the Football League in 2013 and in the 11 campaigns since have locked horns with top-flight teams on 11 occasions in either the League Cup or FA Cup.

Added to that, they have taken on Championship teams 12 times.

County have forged a reputation, largely thanks to the exploits under Michael Flynn, as a League Two club that rises to the occasion, but do the stats back that up?

Against Premier League sides they have a record of one win, four draws (three penalty shootout defeats) and six defeats.

Against Championship clubs it’s six wins, a draw and five defeats.

BATTLE: County drew with Newcastle but lost on penalties (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

It’s a bit daft to do so, but using league metrics they would be averaging 0.64 points per game against Premier League teams – that’s better than Burnley and Sheffield United this season.

Against those from the Championship it’s 1.58, which is better than sixth-placed Coventry in the current campaign.

Of course, it’s nonsense to compare one-off cup ties to the weekly grind of the league but the Exiles have a track record of causing problems for those higher up the pyramid with deeper pockets.

County’s most famous win was against Leicester under three years after they lifted the Premier League title, they were agonisingly close to beating Tottenham and Newcastle and were level-pegging with Manchester City at half-time and just 2-1 down going into the closing stages.

Why not dream? But a word of warning, in penalty shootouts with Newcastle, Brighton and Brentford they scored just eight of 16 attempts and failed with all three against the Bees.

If the Exiles do frustrate United to earn a famous replay then they’d better get the job done inside 120 minutes at Old Trafford…

County beat Championship Middlesbrough in an FA Cup replay (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

COUNTY’S WINS

2013/14: Brighton (Championship) – 3-1 after extra time in League Cup.

2017/18: Leeds (Championship) – 2-1 in FA Cup.

2018/19: Leicester (Premier League) – 2-1 in FA Cup.

2018/19: Middlesbrough (Championship) – 2-0 in FA Cup replay.

2020/21: Swansea (Championship) – 2-0 in League Cup.

2020/21: Watford (Championship) – 3-1 in League Cup.

2022/23: Luton (Championship) – 3-2 in League Cup.

Newport County celebrate Kiban Rai's late leveller against Premier League Brentford (Image: Press Association)

COUNTY’S DRAWS

2017/18: Tottenham (Premier League) – 1-1 in FA Cup.

2018/19: Middlesbrough (Championship) – 1-1 in FA Cup.

2020/21: Newcastle (Premier League) – 1-1 in League Cup (Newcastle won on penalties).

2020/21: Brighton (Premier League) – 1-1 in FA Cup (Brighton won on penalties).

2023/24: Brentford (Premier League) – 1-1 in League Cup (Brentford won on penalties).

RELIEF: Phil Foden celebrates scoring in Manchester City's 4-1 win at Newport County (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

COUNTY’S DEFEATS

2013/14: West Brom (Premier League) – 3-0 in League Cup.

2014/15: Reading (Championship) – 3-1 in League Cup.

2015/16: Wolves (Championship) – 2-1 in League Cup.

2015/16: Blackburn (Championship) – 2-1 in FA Cup.

2017/18: Leeds (Championship) – 5-1 in League Cup.

2017/18: Tottenham (Premier League) – 2-0 in FA Cup replay.

2018/19: Manchester City (Premier League) – 4-1 in FA Cup.

2019/20: West Ham (Premier League) – 2-0 in League Cup.

2019/20: Millwall (Championship) – 3-0 in FA Cup.

2021/22: Southampton (Premier League) – 8-0 in League Cup.

2022/23: Leicester (Premier League) – 3-0 in League Cup.