English FA CUP

2024-01-16 - Eastleigh vs Newport County

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Eastleigh v Newport County
Football: English FA Cup Third Round Replay
Tuesday 16th January 2024 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV

Eastleigh

There is a massive carrot at the end of the stick of this FA Cup Third Round Replay and Eastleigh may feel they have a slight edge having earned the chance to host this tie. They are one of a couple of non-League clubs that are still involved in the FA Cup and hosting Manchester United would be huge for the players and the financial boost it will offer to Eastleigh as a club.

The side are currently in mid-table in the National League and recent form has been a little more erratic, but the FA Cup Fourth Round draw might have provided a distraction. Being back at home will give Eastleigh confidence considering all of their FA Cup victories have been in front of their own fans, including upsetting Reading in the Second Round.

Eastleigh have not won any of their last 4 games in all competitions and they have been beaten twice in that time, including this past weekend against Southend United. Since the upset win over Reading, Eastleigh have won 1 of their last 4 at home, while the defeat in their last home game ended a run of 7 unbeaten at the Silverlake Stadium.

Newport County

There have been plenty of Premier League and Championship clubs that have visited Rodney Parade in Cup competition in recent years and struggled against Newport County. The draw for the FA Cup Fourth Round would mean Newport County get to host the biggest name of all in England, but the players have to avoid overlooking a non-League opponent that earned a draw at Rodney Parade earlier this month.

Despite the position in the League Two table, Newport County are actually closer to the Play Off places than the bottom two in the Division. The Exiles have lost a lot of their away games in their League, but Newport County have beaten Oldham Athletic and Barnet from the National League in the last two Rounds of the FA Cup.

Newport County are unbeaten in their last 5 games since their 2-0 defeat at Wrexham, while they ended a run of 3 consecutive draws when beating Doncaster Rovers on Saturday. That victory away from home means Newport County have won half of their last 8 away games in all competitions.

Head to Head

These clubs ended up playing out a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade in the FA Cup Third Round tie earlier this month.

Eastleigh and Newport County met regularly in non-League Football a few years ago and the latter won 2 of their last 3 visits here.

Prediction

The draw was made and Eastleigh/Newport County came out first.

And then it happenend.

Manchester United.

There is no doubt that the chance to host the biggest club in England is going to give Eastleigh and Newport County a huge amount of motivation ahead of this FA Cup Third Round Replay. Yes, the winning club will receive a huge financial boost, but the players will care little about that and instead be thinking about competing with some of the top names in the Premier League.

Eastleigh have the edge having earned the 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade, but Newport County will feel they should have won that game with the chances they created. They did play against ten men for much of the tie, but Newport County will believe they have the quality edge and can make that count.

It certainly did against Oldham Athletic in the First Round and Barnet in the Second Round, two clubs from the National League in which Eastleigh play. Both of those clubs are above Eastleigh in the National League standings and Newport County will also point out that they beat Barnet in a Second Round Replay away from home.

Eastleigh have a tough home record, but were beaten here on Saturday. That may have been down to the Replay coming up and how important that is for them, but it has to be noted.

Newport County have also picked up their form with 4 wins in their last 8 away games in all competitions and The Exiles may do just enough to bring Manchester United to South Wales.