FA Cup memories inspiring Newport and boss Mullins

Mullins draws on his FA Cup final experience with Portsmouth and West Ham to inspire Newport's first-round tie against Walsall on Saturday.

Manager Hayden Mullins is preparing Newport County for their FA Cup first-round clash against Walsall, reflecting on his own experiences in the competition. Mullins reached two FA Cup finals during his playing career: with West Ham in 2006, where he missed the final after being sent off against Liverpool, and with Portsmouth in 2010, when he played left-back in a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Wembley.

Mullins has drawn parallels between his current Newport side and the West Ham team that reached the 2006 final, citing their dynamic and aggressive approach. He sees the FA Cup as a magical competition that can generate significant exposure and revenue for clubs.

Newport themselves have a proud recent history in the cup, most notably their 2017-18 run when they beat Walsall in round one before eventually losing to Tottenham in the fourth round after a replay at Wembley.