Four memorable Emirates FA Cup games

Ahead of Newport County AFC's third round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, we've taken a look back at three memorable Emirates FA Cup clashes.

Michael Flynn's men will welcome the Premier League outfit to Rodney Parade for another big cup occasion on Sunday evening, but will be without the backing of supporters. 

County booked their place in the third round for the fourth successive campaign following a 3-0 victory over Salford City in November, and have recorded plenty of cup upsets in recent seasons. 

Newport County 2-1 Leeds United (7th January, 2018)

The Exiles re-established their ‘giant killer’ status after dumping Leeds United out of the competition thanks to a late Shawn McCoulsky winner.

The two teams hadn't met in the FA Cup since 1949, when County grabbed a 3-1 win at Elland Road.

But they had already faced each other earlier that season in the Carabao Cup, with Leeds getting the better of them on the day.

And so, the Exiles were determined to put things back in their place when they welcomed the Whites to Rodney Parade.

County were unfortunate to go behind, but were put back on level terms after Leeds defender Conor Shaughnessy turned the ball into his own net.

And in the 89th minute, it was substitute Shawn McCoulsky who climbed the highest at the back post, to send County to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup for the first time since the 1978-89 campaign.

Rodney Parade was bouncing and the occasion will live on in the memories of the Newport faithful.

Newport County 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (27th January, 2018)

Following the triumph over Leeds, Tottenham Hotspur were the next heavyweight to stand in the way of the Exiles.

The visitors fielded a side containing the likes of Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Kieran Trippier, as they had no plans of being victim of another Newport County Emirates FA Cup upset.

And although Spurs were able to grab a late equaliser, the result gave County the consolation of forcing a replay at Wembley.

Just under 10,000 fans squeezed into Rodney Parade to unsettle the north London side – and it worked.

It was one of County’s Emirates FA Cup hero who opened the lead for the home side as Padraig Amond nodded Robbie Willmott's cross into the back of the net, sending Rodney Parade into delirium.

County looked as though they were about to pull off another shock victory, before Kane spoiled the celebrations by nodding in late into the second half.

But the fixture still remains a memorable occasion for the Exiles following a stellar performance against another Premier League outfit.

Newport County 2-1 Leicester City (6th January, 2019)

All the Premier League heavyweights knew Newport were a force to be reckoned with after the performances against Leeds and Tottenham in the season before – and this time it was Leicester City’s time to taste defeat.

The Exiles hosted the third-round fixture at another sold-out Rodney Parade.

The Foxes fielded a team that had won the Premier League title just three years prior, with the names of Kelechi Iheanacho, Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs named in the starting line-up.

The Exiles opened the scoring through Jamille Matt after his header found the back of the net after 10 minutes, while County's goalkeeper Joe Day was in fine form after keeping Rachid Ghezzal out with a double-save before the winger forced the equaliser.

However, after Marc Albrighton handled the ball in the box, Amond smashed home the winner from the penalty spot in the dying stages to record another historic victory at Rodney Parade.