Newport County vs Manchester City, FA Cup fifth round: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?
What is it?
It's the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Newport County and Manchester City!
When is it?
Saturday February 16th.
What time is kick-off?
The action gets under way at Rodney Parade at 5.30pm.
What TV channel is it on?
TV coverage will be on BT Sport 2.
What is the team news?
Newport defender Fraser Franks could keep his place after returning from injury against MK Dons on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola will be without captain Vincent Kompany, while this may come too soon for Benjamin Mendy to make his return from injury.
What are they saying?
Mike Flynn
I hope they bring a strong team. I want to pit ourselves against the best Man City. I want to see how we do against Pep Guardiola in a tactical battle and how we can manage them. Let’s show what we’re about and let’s have a go at them.
We’ll be having a go at them, the pitch will be a little bit different to what they’re used to. I just hope a few of them have an off day and all my players play to the best of their ability, because if that happens at Rodney Parade we’ve got a chance. They’re littered with so much quality, but it’s a chance for our players to stand up and be counted.
Pep Guardiola
We have to adapt. We play in Premier League against Tottenham after NFL games in earlier in the season. We have to accept it. It is what it is, and that’s all.
I saw the [Newport] game against Leicester and Middlesbrough. In the second leg they were outstanding, much better than Boro.
Normally when we play in the Premier League games, the players already know the opposition. Most of the strikers score goals, they are incredible. They use the channels, they put the ball in the box. We are going to suffer in the box because they are taller and stronger than us. In some areas they are better than us.
What are the best odds?
Newport win 50/1
Draw after 90 minutes 14/1
Man City win 1/20
What's our prediction?
Guardiola to field a frighteningly strong lineup, City to weather an early Newport storm, and then begin a procession to a fairytale-ending 4-0 win.
