Wigan vs Man Utd LIVE: FA Cup third round result and reaction as Bruno Fernandes penalty secures victory
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd: A Diogo Dalot curler and a Bruno Fernandes penalty earned the visitors the win
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Your support makes all the difference.There was no fairytale FA Cup giant killing for Wigan Athletic as they hosted Manchester United on a cold Monday night at the DW Stadium. Shaun Maloney’s side slipped to a 2-0 defeat against the Red Devils whose greater quality was evident for all to see.
Things could have been different though as the hosts created the first chance of the night. Martial Godo nipping down the right wing to set up Thelo Aasgaard on the left side of the box only for Andre Onana to charge down the shot. From there though it was all United.
They were wasteful in front of goal and, coupled with a fine display from goalkeeper Sam Tickle, found it difficult to score. The deadlock was broken by a wonderful curling effort. Marcus Rashford slipping the ball to Diogo Dalot just inside the penalty area with the defender having enough time to set himself and pick out the far bottom corner.
In the second half there were a few nervous moments for the visitors. Nothing too stressful and when Bruno Fernandes’ theatrics bought his team a penalty, which he himself converted, that put the game past Wigan.
Relive the action from the DW Stadium below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Why Manchester United clash signals the start of Wigan’s next chapter
Wigan are an embodiment of the magic of the FA Cup. A local town team from a lower league that, on the right occasion, punches above their weight to take out a giant – usually Manchester City.
Their greatest triumph came in 2013. Roberto Martinez’s side took on City in the FA Cup final at Wembley, edging the game 1-0 thanks to a Ben Watson header in stoppage time that won them the trophy for the very first time.
The following year, with Uwe Rosler now in charge, Wigan journeyed to the Etihad Stadium for the quarter-final and defeated City 2-1. Their trophy defence later ended in a penalty shootout against Arsenal in the final four.
The 2018 edition of the cup saw the Latics face City again and they ended the Premier League side’s pursuit of a quadruple by beating Pep Guardiola’s team, which featured Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne as a substitute, 1-0 at the DW Stadium after Will Grigg nipped in behind Kyle Walker for a cool finish past Claudio Bravo.
Why Manchester United clash signals the start of Wigan’s next chapter
After administration and points deductions, a high-profile fixture against the Red Devils will inject new life into the League One club
Wigan vs Manchester United
Manchester United have won 18 of their 19 meetings against Wigan in all competitions with the exception being a 1-0 away loss in the Premier League in April 2012 when current Latics manager Shaun Maloney scored the winning goal.
Wigan vs Manchester United
This is just the second FA Cup meeting between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, with the Red Devils winning 4-0 in the fourth round in 2016/17.
Wigan vs Manchester United team changes
Shaun Maloney makes a couple of changes to the Wigan Athletic side that drew 1-1 with Barnsley last time out. Josh Magennis and Callum Lang drop out with Thelo Aasgaard and Stephen Humphrys slotting into the forward line.
There are also two changes for Manchester United. They lost to Nottingham Forest in their previous outing so Christian Eriksen and Antony are out with Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund coming in.
Erik ten Hag has named a strong line-up against the League One side.
Wigan vs Manchester United line-ups
Wigan Athletic XI: Tickle, Clare, Hughes, Morrison, Sessegnon; Shaw, Adeeko, Jones, Aasgaard, Godo, Humphrys
Manchester United XI: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot, Mainoo, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Harry Maguire talks Wigan loan spell
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire is unlikely to feature in tonight’s match at the DW Stadium but he has a familiarity with the ground having played for Wigan during a loan spell in 2015.
Maguire made 16 appearances for the Latics and looks back on his time with the club in fondness.
The defender was a Hull City player when loaned to Wigan but gained valuable experience in the Championship before going on to establish himself as a Premier League defender for the Tigers and then Leicester City.
“It was amazing. I only had two or three months there,” said Maguire when reminiscing about his time at Wigan, “The fans really welcomed me, they were amazing with me.
“I really enjoyed playing for them. It was a difficult time for the club when I went there, but yeah I have great memories of the club. It’s a real good club, with good fans, passionate fans and one that I’m really appreciative of.”
How Wigan’s Callum McManaman went from FA Cup final glory to retirement and back again
Callum McManaman was still living with his mum and dad. Callum McManaman was also man of the match in the FA Cup final. It is an odd juxtaposition to go with Wigan’s unique double in 2013, the FA Cup winners who were relegated in the same week.
It is not the only unusual element to McManaman’s improbable tale: the footballer who stopped playing football, who was to all intents and purposes retired, faces Manchester United on Monday in the competition that propelled him to prominence.
It was a decade ago.
“It feels like 20 years,” said McManaman. “It was surreal. It went from being no one knew who I was, still living in my mum and dad’s house. It was crazy, going from being basically a reserve-team player to playing in the Premier League and being man of the match in the FA Cup final.”
It puts him in elite company: the others to receive the accolade in the 21st century reads like a who’s who of the footballing greats: from Steven Gerrard to Michael Owen, Thierry Henry to Alexis Sanchez, Wayne Rooney to Ruud van Nistelrooy, Didier Drogba to Frank Lampard, Kevin De Bruyne to Ilkay Gundogan.
How Callum McManaman went from FA Cup final glory to retirement and back again
The player of the match in perhaps the greatest upset in FA Cup final history thought his football career was over a decade later, writes Richard Jolly, before a call from his former team offered him a fresh chance
More from Maloney
Shaun Maloney has told his Wigan Athletic players to make this difficult for Manchester United when they arrive at the DW Stadium this evening.
“I have to try and create a belief in our team,” he said, “Our players have to feel from me that there is belief in certain moments, and the talent our players have can come to the fore.
“We can do it.
“We have to create a match which is extremely difficult for Man Utd. Everyone will expect one result - Manchester United to be very dominant. I have to give my players the belief that there are moments in this game where they can show their talent.”
Cup matches are ‘do or die'
Erik ten Hag says cup games are always ‘do or die’ affairs and that any opponent will always want to defeat Manchester United regardless of their position in the football pyramid.
He said: “So in the cup it is always about do or die and you have to be ready.
“An opponent will be always 100 per cent when they play against Manchester United, but especially when they play in the FA Cup against Manchester United. So we have to be ready to face them, be well prepared.
“We have the expectations that every game we have to win. It doesn’t matter for us if we are away or we play at home, we have to win games.”
Shaun Maloney on Wigan’s ‘belief'
Speaking to the local and national media at the DW Stadium on Friday afternoon, Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney stressed that his team needed to believe they can defeat Manchester United ahead of kick off.
“There has to be belief,” said Wigan’s boss, “I’m very aware of the history of Manchester United, and the connection it has with Scotland. We have to have belief.
“It will be very difficult, and they have talented players, on their day, they can be some of the best players in the Premier League and Europe.”
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