Star footballer abandons match, rushes to hospital after wife goes into labour [Photos]

Newport goalkeeper Joe Day swiftly left the pitch after his wife went into labour during the game [Courtesy]

Newport goalkeeper Joe Day swiftly left the pitch following his side's FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough after his wife went into labour during the game.

The Exiles secured a well-deserved 2-0 win over their Sky Bet Championship visitors after hitting a late leveller in the original tie.

Robbie Willmott opened the scoring with a great solo attempt which began in his own half, cutting through the Boro defence before curling home a bending effort.

Joe rushes to the tunnel at full time [Courtesy]

Padraig Amond, who scored the winner over Leicester in round three, smashed the ball home to double the advantage.

But Day couldn't hang around for the celebrations.

A post on the FA Cup's official Twitter account read: "Newport County goalkeeper Joe Day's wife has been close to giving birth to twins for days.

"Tonight, she went into labour during The Exiles' 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

"At the full-time whistle, Joe raced straight down the tunnel to be with his wife.

"Good luck Joe and family!"

Newport boss Mike Flynn said: "It's nothing more than we deserved tonight we were absolutely outstanding. We should have had a penalty and should have scored more than twice too.

"At half time I told them, 'you are going to get another opportunity.' We had created too much not to get another one. We stuck to our game plan. Boro changed their shape a few times which shows how well we did.

"Robbie Willmott was outstanding. An old fashioned winger, he is very versatile, he's an outstanding talent and he should have played higher in his career.

"They can match Championship players. I don't know what it is with them. We can play like that but not every week in League Two."

On Day, Flynn added: As soon as the whistle went, he sprinted off. The fastest I have seen him! If they come tonight, what a special birthday they will have.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis admitted: "They were the better team, they ran all over us. It was men against boys. Forget the conditions, you have to match people and that's the real disappointment.

"Give them credit, they were fantastic tonight and they deserve their win. The tempo of the game was really poor from us. I am desperately disappointed at the lack of real commitment. We were outfought and outplayed.

"We've been fantastic away from home this year. They have regularly turned up and put in performances but it's different circumstances tonight and we never coped with it."

???????? @NewportCounty goalkeeper Joe Day's wife has been close to giving birth to twins for days.

???? Tonight, she went into labour during The Exiles' 2-0 win over @Boro.

???? At the FT whistle, Joe raced straight down the tunnel to be with his wife.

???? Good luck Joe and family! pic.twitter.com/w46gD2GjoM — The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 5, 2019