FA Cup: Newport County - the giant-killers of the past decade

Since their return to the Football League in 2013, no lower-league club has enjoyed as much cup success as Newport County.

Now preparing for arguably the biggest game in their history and a first meeting with Manchester United, Newport will once again be under the FA Cup spotlight.

But why have bigger teams found it hard to play against the Exiles recently?

BBC Sport Wales has had a look back at County's cup exploits.

Former Tottenham defender Justin Edinburgh was the manager who took Newport back into the Football League

2013 - Brighton and Hove Albion - EFL Cup - win

In 2013 Newport celebrated their return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with a 3-1 win over then Championship side Brighton.

Newport were playing only their second competitive match after ending 25 years in the non-league ranks and came from behind to win in extra time at the Amex.

Goals from Danny Crow and Conor Washington sealed a deserved victory for Newport and their manager, the late Justin Edinburgh.

Brighton got some revenge on Newport when the Exiles hosted the Seagulls, by then a Premier League outfit, in the FA Cup third round in 2021.

Brighton won on penalties on what boss Graham Potter described as a "traumatic night".

Newport and Leeds were separated by 53 league positions when they faced each other in the FA Cup

2018 - Leeds United - FA Cup - win

Newport stunned Championship side Leeds United in the FA Cup in 2018 just months after the Exiles needed a last-gasp goal to remain a Football League side.

The two teams were separated by 53 places in the Football League when Leeds visited Rodney Parade, but it was the Welsh club who prevailed, 2-1, despite Gaetano Berardi giving the visitors an early lead.

Conor Shaughnessy's own goal drew County level with 15 minutes remaining and Shawn McCoulsky sent Rodney Parade into raptures with a header from a corner in the 89th minute.

Tottenham, who were rescued by Harry Kane's late equaliser, would go on to reach the FA Cup semi-final in 2017-18

2018 - Tottenham Hotspur - FA Cup - draw

Erik ten Hag will hope he can enjoy a more comfortable afternoon at Rodney Parade than Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino did in 2018.

Newport's reward for beating Leeds was a glamour tie with Spurs and the Exiles almost did it again.

Spurs finished third in the Premier League that season yet were close to coming unstuck at Newport, who took the lead on 38 minutes through Padraig Amond.

However, talisman Harry Kane rescued Tottenham with eight minutes remaining, and Spurs then won the replay 2-0 at their temporary Wembley Stadium home.

BBC Sport readers voted for Newport's win over Leicester as the shock of the FA Cup third round in 2018-19

2019 - Leicester City - FA Cup - win

A massive 74 places in the Football League separated Newport and 2016 Premier League champions Leicester City, but that did not help the Foxes, who were beaten 2-1 at a raucous Rodney Parade.

Jamille Matt and Padraig Amond (again) goals, either side of a Rachid Ghezzai effort, secured another famous win for Newport - their first cup victory over a top-flight side since 1964 - in front of the TV cameras.

Newport supporters could barely contain their glee, but did interrupt their celebrations to question BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker - a Leicester fan - with cries of "Gary, what's the score?".

2019 - Middlesbrough - FA Cup - win

Newport powered into the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2019 - and set up a showdown with Pep Guardiola - after seeing off Championship side Middlesbrough 2-0 in a replay.

Matty Dolan's last-gasp equaliser earned Newport a draw at the Riverside and they were deserved winners against a Boro side managed by one of Newport's famous footballing sons, Tony Pulis.

Second-half goals from Robbie Wilmott - who was a supermarket shelf-stacker in 2017 - and Amond set up a fifth-round tie with the blue half of Manchester.

Pep Guardiola said he understood "completely" why Leicester and Middlesbrough "suffered so much in this stadium" after Manchester City's visit to Rodney Parade

2019 - Manchester City - FA Cup - loss

Manchester United fans might be concerned that not even Pep Guardiola's all-star Manchester City side - who went on to win the FA Cup as part of an unprecedented domestic treble - found it easy to get a result at Rodney Parade.

The Exiles trailed only 2-1 in the 89th minute - having had the best chance of a goalless first half - but ultimately lost 4-1.

"We were calm in the second half and we made an incredible performance considering the conditions," Guardiola said.

Padraig Amond's goals have been integral to Newport's recent cup successes

2020 - Swansea City, Watford - EFL Cup - win, win

Newport knocked two Championship sides out of the EFL Cup in 2020-21 and they were two of the best teams in the division.

The Exiles beat Swansea - who would finish fourth that season and reach the play-off final - 2-0 at Rodney Parade thanks to Tristan Abrahams' double as they won rare bragging rights over a Welsh rival.

County then beat Watford 3-1 at home to advance to the fourth round of the competition for the first time, with Abrahams, Josh Labadie and that man Amond scoring the goals that knocked out a Hornets side who would win go on to win automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Newport almost made it to the quarter finals, but would lose on penalties 6-5 to Premier League Newcastle United after Jonjo Shelvey's late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw.

2022 - Luton Town - EFL Cup - win

Newport beat another side who would go on to win promotion to the Premier League last season as they secured an unlikely 3-2 win at Luton Town in the EFL Cup second round.

James Waite struck the winner for Newport, who twice came from behind at Kenilworth Road.

2024 Manchester United - FA Cup - ?

The biggest game yet awaits Newport as Manchester United visit Rodney Parade.

United are arguably playing Newport at the worst time, with the Exiles in their best form of the season, having risen to 14th in League Two thanks to a fine recent run where they have lost only two of their last 11 games.

Graham Coughlan's team have beaten the teams currently first and second in League Two at Rodney Parade this season, with their latest win being a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Welsh rivals Wrexham.

Now it is United's turn to see if they can survive a date with the Exiles, who lost to Brentford on penalties in this season's EFL Cup after a 1-1 draw in south Wales.

Should United fans be worried about a shock defeat on Sunday? United legend Mickey Thomas, a man who knows a thing or two about FA Cup shocks, says he thinks Newport have "a decent chance" of causing an upset.

With United unconvincing this season, having already lost 14 matches in all competitions, Newport fans will be dreaming that something very special is possible.