FULL-TIME REPORT: Newport County 1 Blackburn Rovers 2

Paul Lambert’s side had to play most of the match a man light after Chris Brown was sent off just two minutes after Ben Marshall had put them in front from the penalty spot.

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Newport, who are 49 places lower in the Football League standings, made the most of their numerical advantage to equalise on the half-hour through a stunning Mark Byrne strike.

But, after being on the ropes for the reminder of the opening period, Rovers improved considerably after the restart.

And in the 75th minute their Championship class told when half-time substitute Rhodes sealed their first win in seven games and set-up a fourth-round trip to Oxford United and a reunion with their former manager, Michael Appleton, and one of their greatest players, Derek Fazackerley.

Confusion reigned just before and just after the start of the first competitive meeting between the clubs.

Rovers, who were only able to name six substitutes for the second time this season after Matt Kilgallon dropped out of their 18-man travelling party through illness, recalled Lee Williamson to their starting line-up.

But, when they took to a bobbly pitch that had played host to two rugby union matches in the three days previous, Williamson had been replaced by Elliott Bennett after injuring himself in the warm-up.

Newport, making their first appearance at this stage of the competition since their reformation in 1989, were fired up, and so were their partisan crowd.

But they fell silent in the eighth minute after Marshall converted the spot-kick he had won after he swapped passes with Chris Taylor and was brought down in the box by Scott Barrow.

However Rovers’ dream start soon turned into a disaster when Brown was given his marching orders.

The striker may not have intended to hurt Medy Elito, who had to be stretchered off, but he always ran the risk of being red carded by going in with his studs up.

It was one of the few correct decisions that woeful referee Charles Breakspear got right in a breakneck first half.

Tom Lawrence was moved up front but, unable to make anything of the long punts aimed at his head, it came as no surprise when he was joined by Rhodes at the interval.

By that stage County were level thanks to a moment of brilliance by their captain.

Yes Byrne was given time and space but take nothing away from the way he arrowed his 20-yard shot beyond Jason Steele’s despairing dive and into the top corner.

Up until that point Rovers had looked like weathering the storm with Taylor heading over after Hope Akpan linked up with Marshall down the right.

But, after restoring parity, the League Two strugglers looked the stronger of the teams and they went close to going in front when Connor Dymond volleyed a Byrne cross just past the post.

Rovers needed to show more fight, more composure and more urgency.

And, with Rhodes on for Bennett in a bold move by Lambert, they did that in spades after the break.

Rhodes made an immediate difference, heading an inswinging Tommy Spurr corner just wide and then holding the ball up for Taylor and Lawrence to see efforts blocked.

But just when it looked like Rovers had left their shooting boots back in Blackburn, up-popped the man who has got them out of jail so many times before.

Wales international Lawrence swung over a cross from the left and there was Rhodes to head in his 10th goal of the campaign and his first in 10 games.

Now it was a test of character for Newport who themselves should have been reduced to 10 men when Dymond left Spurr in a heap.

And in the 81st minute they wasted a golden opportunity as their leading marksman Scott Boden headed wide when it appeared easier to score.

And it got worse for County in injury-time when their goalkeeper Joe Day was sent off for fouling Craig Conway outside of his area.

His replacement, Joe Green, saved Marshall’s free kick, but it mattered little.

Rovers were through.

Newport: Day, Holmes, Davies, Donacien, Barrow (Green 90), Hughes, Dymond (Taylor 83), Byrne, Elito (Owen-Evans 14), Boden, Collins. Subs not used: Klukowski, Ralph, Twumasi, Parselle.

Booked: Dymond.

Sent off: Day 90.

Goal: Byrne 90.

Rovers: Steele, Marshall, Hanley, Lenihan, Spurr, Bennett (Rhodes 46), Akpan, Evans (Henley 90), Taylor, Lawrence (Conway 77), Brown. Subs not used: Raya, Olsson.

Booked: Lawrence, Taylor.

Sent off: Brown 10.

Goals: Marshall 8pen, Rhodes 75.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Attendance: 5,083 (558 away).