Newport's FA Cup hero Padraig Amond: 'Danny Ward faced a few of my penalties in training so I was hoping he wouldn't remember'

Newport County’s FA Cup hero Padraig Amond admits he was wary of former teammate Danny Ward as he faced the Leicester City keeper from 12 yards.

The Carlow man netted the decisive penalty five minutes from time as the League Two outfit dumped Leicester – who won the Premier League two years ago – out in the third round.

Newport had led for the majority of the game following Jamille Matt’s towering early header, but Rachid Ghezzal had struck a spectacular equaliser for the away side eight minutes from the end.

Parity lasted just three minutes, however, as Mark Albrighton inexplicably handled Vashon Neufville’s looping cross and Amond was handed the chance to settle the tie from the spot.

And the former Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers striker says he was wary of Leicester stopper Ward having taken many a penalty against him during their time at Morecambe together.

"It's a penalty so you're expected to score,” a delighted Amond told BBC Sport.

“I played with Danny Ward at Morecambe. He faced a few of my penalties in training so I was hoping he wouldn't remember.

"It's brilliant to score the winner but just to win is the big one. Everyone's done brilliantly today and I think we fully deserved it."

Amond is not the only League of Ireland connection in the Newport team as former Dundalk defender Wayne Hatswell is Michael Flynn’s second-in-command at Rodney Parade.



Flynn added: "It's almost Roy of the Rovers stuff, I can't believe it. It's the first time I've beaten a Premier League club as a manager so it's one I'll never forget.

"I'm actually a bit frustrated with the players. We couldn't beat Stevenage last weekend and they had 10 men for an hour.

“It's because I know the qualities they've got, we've just gone and beaten the Premier League champions from two years ago. It's unbelievable.

“And my assistant Wayne Hatswell said that Gary Lineker owes him a pint because he keeps going on about the own goal he scored!"

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