Newport vs Man United Prediction and Betting Tips: Two picks for David against Goliath FA Cup clash

We have a David vs Goliath clash in the FA Cup on Sunday as League Two Newport County welcome the mighty Manchester United to Rodney Parade. We’ve got Anthony Eadson on hand to provide us with his best bets. 

Maidstone United are the only team ranked lower than Newport who currently remain in the FA Cup. The Welsh side are currently six points off the play-off places in the fourth-tier standings. Graham Coughlan’s side have navigated their way past Oldham, Barnet and Eastleigh so far in the competition to set up this potential banana skin for Manchester United.  

Erik ten Hag will see the FA Cup as a genuine way to get his hands on a trophy and very much rescue the season for the Red Devils. United are currently the third favourites in the outright winner market ahead of the fourth round with most bookmakers going 8/1 they lift the trophy at Wembley in May. 

For my main selection on Sunday, I’ve taken a bit of the even money (1/1) that is available for there to be Under 3 cards shown by referee David Coote in the match. FA Cup clashes can often yield a lower card-count than league matches, with teams often putting less emphasis on this competition due to their league and European commitments.  

I feel this angle is amplified when you have a lower league side facing one of the big boys of English football and a key pointer here is that no cards at all were shown in Manchester United’s third round tie with Wigan Athletic. Despite their well-documented woes in recent months, I think the visitors will put in a professional performance, with Newport left chasing shadows, just as was the case with Wigan in the previous round.  

Newport will look to seize this opportunity and with the game being shown live on tv many of their players will be looking to showcase their services in the shop window. Only Macaulay Langstafff and Jake Young have scored more goals in League Two this season than Newport’s top-scorer Will Evans. 

The frontman has netted 15 goals in total and has recorded more shots on target than any other player for his side. Young has cleared the Over 1.5 shots on target line in nine of his league starts this season and will let fly at every opportunity in this high-profile fixture. This same bet is for Young to record Over 1.5 shots on target is 4/1 with Sky Bet so take the much juicer offering of 9/1 with bet365.