ACCORDING to one bookie, the discovery of extra-terrestrial life was more likely than a victory for Newport County AFC against the mighty Manchester City.

And, while Michael Flynn’s men played like super-humans at times, City managed to avoid the biggest shock in the history of the FA Cup at a rocking Rodney Parade.

This was the reigning Premier League champions and current leaders against the 15th best side in League Two.

It was the club who thrashed Chelsea 6-0 last Sunday against the one who lost 6-0 at home to Yeovil Town back in September.

City had already scored 122 goals in 41 league and cup games before they arrived in Newport, and that included a 7-0 romp against Rotherham United and a 9-0 battering of Burton Albion.

It shouldn’t have been a contest at all. But the Exiles, who had already upset the odds to beat Leicester City and Middlesbrough, know how to rise to the big occasion.

Flynn reverted to the starting XI that battered Boro in the fourth round, with Mark O’Brien and Joss Labadie returning in place of Fraser Franks and the ineligible Ben Kennedy.

Pep Guardiola made seven changes from last week’s demolition of Chelsea, but he still named a team that cost more than £323m to assemble.

The Spaniard was clearly taking no chances with first-choice goalkeeper Ederson lining up behind a team including John Stones, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and captain David Silva.

And, while County named deadline day loan signing Harry McKirdy on the bench, the visitors had Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in reserve.

City brushed aside fears over the tricky surface and quickly found their rhythm.

Dan Butler really had his work cut out against Mahrez, but he fared well for the most part.

The former Leicester winger skipped past Butler and Mickey Demetriou early on and drilled a dangerous ball across goal before Fernandinho fired wide from 20 yards.

After the superb second goal against Boro last week, the first County corner received a huge cheer on 11 minutes but it came to nothing.

It was actually Demetriou’s long throw that caused the City defence real problems and it almost produced the opening goal on 14 minutes.

Matt, who was a real handful in the first half, flicked on the missile and Tyreeq Bakinson didn’t quite get enough power on his header at the far post – allowing Ederson to claw the ball away.

It wasn’t quite a save to rival that from the late Gordon Banks – who received a touching tribute before kick-off – against Pele in 1970, but it was a big moment and proof that County could threaten their illustrious opponents.

South Wales Argus:

Normal service resumed with City dominating possession and looking threatening whenever they poured forward, often when Exiles attacks broke down.

Sane and Fernandinho both fired over the top from distance and Joe Day stopped a vicious Mahrez shot with his chest.

Joss Labadie hooked a shot high and wide at the other end after another long throw from Demetriou was headed down by Matt.

Mahrez then curled wide from 25 yards before Sane flashed a shot onto the bar from a tight angle.

Flynn’s men then survived two handball shouts as first Robbie Willmott and then O’Brien appeared to handle in the box just before the break, but referee Andre Marriner was not interested.

The home fans gave their side a well-deserved standing ovation as they made their way off at half-time for a 15-minute respite.

The management team would have been proud of the effort in the first 45 minutes but perhaps a little concerned that Matt and Amond were often isolated up front.

And, with Amond also frequently tracking back to help out in defence, Matt was left to plough a lone furrow at times.

South Wales Argus:

But County started the second half on the front foot and a brilliant surging run forward from Regan Poole, so impressive throughout, soon got everyone out of their seats.

The County supporters were really vocal, but it was the 1,600 away fans who were cheering moments later.

Sane collected a pass from Jesus and blasted towards goal from a narrow angle to finally make the breakthrough on 51 minutes.

Day may feel he could have done more to keep it out but he had no time to linger on what might have been.

After a momentary silence, the Amber Army tried to get their team going again and they were grateful to see the Exiles number one dive to his left to keep out a low Danilo drive.

The City right-back then hit the post as Pep’s superstars went for the jugular.

The killer second goal duly arrived on 74 minutes when England under-21s star Phil Foden drove forward from midfield and drilled a low shot past Day from 25 yards.

The hosts continued to push and probe and they finally got the goal they deserved in the 88th minute as Amond kept up his record of scoring in every round of the competition this season with a deft chip over Ederson.

But Foden then hit back almost straightaway to hammer home his second and City’s third, and Mahrez lashed in a fourth deep into stoppage time to put the result beyond doubt.

There was no miracle then, no fairy-tale ending to County’s remarkable run in the world’s oldest cup competition.

But this was, without a doubt, still a night to remember for anyone lucky enough to say ‘I was there’ when Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City superstars came to town.

County: Day; Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Bennett (Franks, 86), Labadie (Dolan, 68), Bakinson (Sheehan, 61), Butler; Matt, Amond

Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, Marsh-Brown, McKirdy

City: Ederson, Zinchenko, Stones, Otamendi, Danilo, Fernandinho (Laporte, 79), Sane, D. Silva (Gundogan, 81), Foden, Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus

Subs not used: Muric, Walker, De Bruyne, Sterling, B. Silva

Referee: Andre Marriner

Attendance: 9,680 (1,662 City)

Argus star man: Poole