28 January 2024 , 19:07
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There proved to be some significant firsts at Newport’s Rodney Parade ground.
Manchester United’s prodigiously talented young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo scored his first goal for the club. It will surely be the first of many for the gifted 18-year-old, whose talent and attitude suggests he can command a first-team place at United for years to come.
There was also a milestone for United’s £86million winger Antony, who went into the fourth round tie without a goal or an assist in 22 games this season. For the fourth most expensive signing in United’s illustrious history, failing to register a goal or assist more than halfway through a campaign takes some doing.
But here, against spirited and ebullient League Two opposition, the Brazilian winger finally managed to register an assist and a goal, the latter ultimately helping United to a hard-fought win to book their place in the next round.
United boss Erik ten Hag has blamed Antony’s off-field issues, namely allegations of domestic abuse made against him by a former partner, for the 23-year-old’s dramatic loss of form this season.
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Whatever the reasons, Antony can consider himself lucky Ten Hag has kept faith in him, given his mediocre return on such a sizeable transfer fee, one that defies belief with every lamentable display from the player.
Despite his assist and goal, this was another frustrating performance from Antony, one United fans have come to expect from a player who has failed to come close to justifying his exorbitant price tag in a season-and-a-half at Old Trafford.
Antony scored and came up with an assist in the 4-2 win at Newport CountyToo often here, Antony chose to pass sideways or backwards, with no service at all to United’s front man Rasmus Hojlund, who would surely be into double figures for the season if he had wingers crossing the ball for him to turn into the net.
Hojlund was not the only United player to show his frustration with Antony. When Newport equalised to make it 2-2, Diogo Dalot made clear his dismay with Antony for his culpability in the United attack that broke down moments before the hosts levelled.
Indeed, it was Antony’s failure to properly track the run of Adam Lewis that enabled the Newport left-back to put the ball into the path of Will Evans, who equalised with a fine first-time finish.
Antony allowed his own frustration to boil over. After being fouled early in the second-half, he stopped short of kicking the ball in anger and received a warning from referee David Coote to calm down.
The Brazilian continues to underwhelm for the Red DevilsYet Antony found himself in the right place at the right time, when a 68th-minute shot from Luke Shaw rebounded off a post and into the path of the United winger, who calmly steered it into the net.
Antony sank to his knees in celebration, pointing skywards and taking in the acclaim from United’s travelling fans, which was matched by boos and howls of derision from the home support, who also jeered him when he was replaced towards the end of the game.
It will take more than an assist and a goal against lower league opposition to vindicate his signing, but Antony’s match-winning contribution could yet prove to be a defining moment in his and United’s season.