Man Utd see off League One Wigan in FA Cup-ZoomTech News

Manchester United proved too robust for League One Wigan Athletic as Erik ten Hag’s aspect moved into the fourth spherical of the FA Cup.

Rasmus Hojlund’s diving header clipped the bar, Rashford had an try fumbled in opposition to the submit by Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle and Alejandro Garnacho’s well-hit 20-yard effort additionally bounced off the woodwork as United pushed for a second.

Martial Godo didn’t make a clear connection from six yards to waste a uncommon probability of an equaliser for the hosts earlier than United secured the victory within the second half.

Bruno Fernandes gained a penalty, along with his foot clipped by Liam Shaw’s problem, earlier than the Portuguese midfielder received as much as convert from the spot for United’s second objective.

The draw for the fourth spherical occurred simply earlier than kick-off and Manchester United will face both Newport County, 18th in League Two, or non-league Eastleigh – eleventh within the Nationwide League and the second-lowest ranked aspect remaining.

These golf equipment can have a replay subsequent week after it ended 1-1 on the weekend in south Wales, with spherical 4 happening during the last weekend of January.

‘An enormous competitors everybody needs to win’

United had 33 makes an attempt, scoring twice, with Tickle doing nicely to maintain the rating down to only 2-0 and Ten Hag was content material with the victory.

“It is all in regards to the win,” the Dutchman mentioned. “Within the first half the way in which we performed, how we labored the ball and created a number of probabilities, was pleasing to see.

“We should always’ve scored extra however the good factor is we created the possibilities. We’ve so many [players out with] sickness or injured and we nonetheless had fairly a great aspect.

“We had been assured of successful this recreation and we might by no means underestimate an opponent. We knew they might combat for his or her lives because it was the sport of their lives however we took the sport nicely.

“This can be a large competitors and everybody needs to win it, each supervisor is keen to win it so we took it critically.”

The match was performed in entrance of the primary sold-out crowd at DW Stadium in additional than 10 years, with Wigan, who virtually went out of enterprise in the summertime earlier than being rescued when native businessman Mike Danson purchased the membership, seeking to trigger the shock of the spherical.

The attendance of twenty-two,870 was the best on the floor since 23,001 watched Wigan play Aston Villa on 19 Might 2013 – the Latics’ final match within the Premier League.

Skilled United get job completed

The house aspect almost made a dream begin however Thelo Aasgaard’s strike, with solely the goalkeeper to beat, was fantastically saved by Andre Onana in what might be his final match for United earlier than he joins the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

That try gave the house followers hope of watching Wigan, 18th in League One, create their greatest FA Cup shock since beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis 1-0 within the fifth spherical at DW Stadium in 2018, additionally as a League One aspect.

The FA Cup is United’s final remaining hope of salvaging one thing from a tricky season that has already seen them lose 14 occasions.

They’re eighth within the Premier League, their defence of the Carabao Cup ended within the final 16 and a depressing Champions League marketing campaign noticed them not solely end backside of the group however ended their involvement in European soccer earlier than Christmas.

The significance of this competitors was proven by Ten Hag naming his strongest potential line-up and his crew then threatened to overpower a aspect 54 locations beneath them within the English soccer pyramid.

Scott McTominay and Rashford didn’t convert probabilities, and it was no shock when the guests went forward by Dalot’s glorious curling shot.

Hojlund and McTominay missed alternatives as United ought to have wrapped up the tie earlier than half-time.

Wigan, managed by Shaun Maloney – a member of the aspect that beat Manchester Metropolis 1-0 within the 2013 last for the best second within the membership’s historical past – had to absorb a number of stress, however may have levelled had Godo adjusted his ft faster when central, or if Stephen Humphrys’ shot had deflected into the underside nook as an alternative of going simply broad.

However the Latics by no means regarded like forcing an equaliser earlier than Fernandes’ penalty clinched a deserved, much-needed victory for United.

Maloney mentioned he had no complaints in regards to the end result or the penalty for United’s second objective, and added: “By way of the hassle, I am very pleased with what the gamers gave.

“It was a tough match and United performed very, very nicely and had been a extremely robust opponent. We tried to be as aggressive as we may and we discovered it robust.

“We stored going and wanted some saves from our goalkeeper. Manchester United had a number of probabilities however I am unable to criticise the hassle of the crew.

“Once we performed beneath stress we confirmed some expertise and a few gamers had good particular person performances. It is by no means good to get overwhelmed however I hope we take one thing from it within the subsequent few weeks.

“They’re a extremely good crew with the ball and their attacking gamers are a number of the finest within the Premier League.”