ISLAND-born player Dan Butler created another personal milestone playing for Newport County in the FA Cup — helping his team beat Middlesbrough 2-0 last night (Tuesday) to set up a dream tie against defending Premier league champions Manchester City.

The livewire left back, a former Cowes High School pupil who played for Portsmouth from the age of ten, before moving to Torquay United then on to Newport County in June 2016, made it a miserable homecoming for Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis, who hails from Newport.

Dan told the Isle of Wight County Press: "It was a great night — a career high for me so far, with the occasion, the atmosphere and the result.

"Looking ahead to the Man City game, I'm not going to lie, I'm glad we aren't playing them away from home at the Etihad.

"At home, if we play like we did against Middlesbrough last night and against Leicester, we stand a chance of causing another upset.

"We are hard to beat at home. Boro had a full strength team out last night — and in the first game at the Riverside. 

"Rodney Parade is a bit of a fortress and on their day, the fans can be brilliant, like they were last night. It can be an intimidating and hostile place to come.

"As a professional footballer, you want to play against the best and that's what City are.

"It may sound ridiculous, but we believe we've got a chance against City. I'm really looking forward to it.

"The game is also going to be shown live on TV, so that will be good.

"Life at Newport County could not be better — for me, my partner and little girl, Dolly, and my football is going well." 

Butler's Newport have made their Rodney Parade ground a banana skin for top clubs in the FA Cup, with Leicester City in the third round and Leeds United last season losing there.

They also held Spurs there to take them to Wembley for a replay last season, which Butler played in — a game in which he was unlucky to score an own goal.

Newport's match against Man City will be on Saturday, February 16, which will be televised live on BBC 1 at 5.30pm.