Graham Coughlan warns Man Utd to expect a hostile atmosphere at Newport
Newport boss Graham Coughlan has warned Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag will be in the FA Cup firing line at Rodney Parade (Barrington Coombs/PA)
Newport manager Graham Coughlan admits Erik ten Hag is in the FA Cup firing line and warned Manchester United to expect a “unique and hostile” atmosphere at Rodney Parade.
United meet League Two County for the first time in their history in Sunday’s fourth-round tie, with 74 places between them in the football pyramid and millions of pounds on their respective balance sheets.
Yet Rodney Parade’s tight confines and a crowd of just under 10,000 will welcome United with Ten Hag, during a dismal season at Old Trafford, under pressure to progress in the only competition the Red Devils have a chance left of winning.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag knows the FA Cup is his last chance of winning silverware this season (Martin Rickett/PA)
“It’s part of the job. He knows what he signed up for. We all do,” CoughIan said of the scrutiny the Dutchman will face in South Wales just weeks after Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in United.
“When you put yourself in the firing line, there are going to be bullets flying and coming your way.
“You’ve got to know how to handle that.”
Addressing the pressure and strains of management, Dubliner Coughlan – a self-confessed United fan who has previously been at Bristol Rovers and Mansfield – “I’ve been in his shoes. I’ve been there and got the T-shirt.
“He’ll come through it. He’ll be experienced enough to come through it. He has good people around him and that will be the key.
“You do go through tough times and difficult periods, but hopefully they get to grips with it by getting a bit of leadership
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