Newport County are hoping to pull off the ‘biggest FA Cup shock of all time’ according to their manager Michael Flynn and they will be looking to eek out any advantage they can as they take on the team top of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will not be used to the facilities at Rodney Parade, a ground that will be packed to the rafters this evening, holding 8,700 people in toal.
The highly-paid Premier League stars are used to playing on football pitches which are like carpets whereas the pitch as Newport resembles one you are more likely to see down at your local park, which could bring City down a peg or two.
BT Sport broadcaster Jake Humphrey is already at the ground ahead of kick-off later on and has published a video showing the full extent of the damage to the pitch.
Fans on social media can’t wait for this tie giving their views below:
“That's what the FA Cup is all about, ties like this!” @Toggs10
“Same for both teams though.” @G2mcc
“Grass is overrated anyway.” @JimHearson
“Stop walking on the pitch please. You’ll ruin it.” @Sule456
“Sprinklers on...mix in a few pebbles and stones, power cut in the away changing room, inflate ball till rock hard and bring on Pep!” @AlistairGriffin
This has all the potential to be an absolute corker of an FA Cup tie with Pep keen to avoid a repeat of what happened at Wigan in the same competition last season. This year he has already swept aside Burton and Rotherham in brutal fashion, this really could go one of two ways.
