On paper, Watford traveled to southeast Wales on Tuesday as overwhelming favorite over Newport County in their third-round League Cup tie. Watford was a Premier League club last season, while Newport County was a middling League Two side. What the Hornets failed to account for though was Newport's penchant for upsetting upper-league opposition in cup competitions.
Newport already defeated Welsh rival Swansea City in the first round of this season's League Cup, and the Exiles' 3-1 victory over Championship side Watford on Tuesday marked the eighth time Newport has defeated a side playing in a higher tier in just the last four seasons.
"I thought it was a fantastic performance," manager Michael Flynn said. "We've outplayed a Championship club who have just come down from the Premier League. I can't be any more proud of my players than I already am.
"We moved the ball really well, played some fantastic football and we created a lot of chances. We created far more than what Watford did."
Newport out-shot Watford 14-3, including 5-1 on shots on target, in a game that was thoroughly deserving of a victory for the Welsh side.
It is these types of performances that have led to one of the more remarkable FA Cup streaks in recent memory.
In 2017-18, Newport reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, defeating Leeds United and drawing Tottenham along the way before succumbing to Spurs in the replay. This was the club's longest run in the competition in nearly 40 years.
The next year, the Welsh club made a historic run, as the side made it to the FA Cup fifth round, beating Premier League side Leicester City and Championship club Middlesbrough, and then only bowing out after a 4-1 defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City (a match that was a 2-1 game after 88 minutes).
The League Two side then made it to the third round of England's most prestigious competition in 2019-20 before falling to Millwall.
Striker Pádraig Amond has been a key factor in many of these monumental upsets. Amond scored in eight consecutive FA Cup rounds, beginning with a fourth-round replay defeat to Tottenham in February 2018 and ending when the Irishman failed to score in a third-round defeat to Millwall in January 2020. This stretch included three goals against Premier League opposition.
Happy Birthday to our leading scorer this season, Padraig Amond!
What is your favourite goal that Podge has scored in Amber, #Exiles?How about his perfect chip over Ederson @ManCity earlier on this season? #NCAFC #OurJourneyContinues pic.twitter.com/b7qRFAZqwv
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) April 15, 2019
His 65th-minute goal against Watford on Tuesday helped the Exiles advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, where the club will host the winner of Morecambe vs. Newcastle in just a week's time, likely another opportunity for Newport to shock a Premier League side.
And you can bet Michael Flynn's side will be ready.
