• Manchester United face Newport County in the fourth round on Sunday  
  • Chris Sutton told It’s All Kicking Off that it’s a game that Erik ten Hag can’t win 
  • Newport away is a NIGHTMARE game for Manchester United. Erik ten Hag cannot afford to lose – It’s All Kicking Off

Manchester United’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Newport County has been described as a ‘nightmare’ game for Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils travel to the south of Wales to play Newport – who are 73 places behind them in the football pyramid – on Sunday. 

Not many are giving the League Two side a chance of pulling off what would be one of the biggest FA Cup giant-killings in the tournament’s history.

And Chris Sutton, speaking on Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off, has insisted that Ten Hag can’t win – regardless of whether his side progress or not. 

Sutton said: ‘This is a nightmare game for Erik ten Hag. Evens if he wins, he can’t win.

Erik ten Hag 'can't win' against Newport on Sunday claims Chris Sutton

Sutton says it's a 'nightmare' game for Ten Hag

Chris Sutton (right) believes Manchester United’s trip to Newport County is a ‘nightmare’ game for Erik ten Hag

Newport County are 73 places behind Manchester United in the football pyramid

Newport County are 73 places behind Manchester United in the football pyramid 

‘It wasn’t so long ago when Newport knocked out Leicester – Claude Puel was the Leicester manager and that ended up being the catalyst for his sacking.

‘So this is a nightmare for Manchester United. We all expect them to win the game and we all expect them to win comfortably, but this is a game where if Ten Hag loses, the heat is really going to be on him. This is a game he cannot lose.’

Newport County famously knocked out Leicester in the FA Cup during the 2018-19 season, and reached the fifth round where they were knocked out by eventual winners Manchester City.

Puel who managed Leicester in the loss to Newport, departed the King Power Stadium just one month later.  

United go into Sunday’s game having lost 14 of their 30 games in all competitions this season.

Mail Sport’s football editor Ian Ladyman said on It’s All Kicking Off that if the record turns to 15 losses in 31, then United’s new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘would be in some bother’. 

Ten Hag’s future at the club has come under speculation following the Red Devils’ poor season to date.

Though the Glazers retain majority ownership, Ratcliffe and INEOS will take control of football operations after buying a 25 per cent stake in the club. 

Claude Puel left Leicester one month after Newport County beat them in the FA Cup

Claude Puel left Leicester one month after Newport County beat them in the FA Cup

United are overwhelming favourites but the heat will be on Ten Hag if they suffer a defeat

United are overwhelming favourites but the heat will be on Ten Hag if they suffer a defeat

Ian Ladyman insists Manchester United will 'look forward' to getting the game out of the way

Ian Ladyman insists Manchester United will ‘look forward’ to getting the game out of the way

Sunday’s clash will be the first ever competitive meeting involving the two sides, and Ladyman has described it as a game that will ‘capture the imagination’.

He said: ‘In terms of potential for a giant killing, I would say it’s probably quite small, but it’s certainly a game to capture the imagination.

‘There are 73 places between Manchester United and Newport in League Two. And it’s one of those games that the Newport supporters will be looking forward to so much. 

‘Manchester United, Erik ten Hag and his players will just be looking forward to getting it out of the way.’

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Post source: Daily mail

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