Manchester United’s FA Cup campaign gained momentum with a convincing 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic. The win showcased their strength and determination in the competition, as they advanced to the next round with a dominant performance.
Dalot’s skill and Fernandes’ penalties inspired the Red Devils to FA Cup glory
Manchester United proved their strength over Wigan Athletic, qualifying to the FA Cup fourth round under Erik ten Hag’s assistance. The Red Devils, who have won 12 FA Cups, showed their class with a brilliant Diogo Dalot shot in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on Marcus Rashford’s previous attempt, which was stopped by Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle. Despite Wigan’s hopes, United continued to press for a second goal, with many chances hitting the post.
The fourth-round draw indicated that Manchester United will meet either Newport County or non-league Eastleigh. The upcoming face between these clubs will decide United’s next opponent, with the fourth-round matches set for the last weekend of January.
United FA Cup Mastery:
Manchester United proved their dominance over League One side Wigan Athletic, qualifying to the fourth round of the FA Cup under manager Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils, who have won the FA Cup 12 times, marked their dominance with an outstanding repeating shot from Diogo Dalot in the 22nd minute.
United continued pressing for a second goal, with Rasmus Hojlund’s diving header removing the crossbar, Rashford’s attempt blocked by the woodwork, and Alejandro Garnacho’s 20-yard shot bouncing against the post.
Wigan’s Martial Godo missed a rare chance to bring down the scoring when he failed to connect cleanly from six yards.
The Red Devils secured the victory in the second half when Bruno Fernandes earned a penalty resulting from a tackle by Liam Shaw.
Fernandes secures victory: Manchester United eyes Newport County or Eastleigh in the FA Cup fourth round
Fernandes confidently converted from the penalty to give United their second goal. Manchester United moves to the next round of the FA Cup.
The fourth round draw took place minutes before the match, showing that Manchester United would face either Newport County, who are right now 18th in League Two, or non-league side Eastleigh, who are 11th in the National League and the second-lowest rated team still in the competition. Newport County and Eastleigh will face off in another match following their 1-1 draw in South Wales, with the fourth-round matches due to take place on the final weekend of January.
The power Unleashed: Manchester United’s 33 Attempts, Two Goals
Manchester United ruled their game against Wigan Athletic, making an amazing 33 attempts on goal and scoring twice. Having several opportunities, Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle’s outstanding efforts kept the score to a 2-0 victory for United.
“It’s all about the win,” the Dutchman stated, focusing on the positive parts of the team’s performance in the first half. Ten Hag congratulated the ball movement and opportunity generation, admitting that while more goals may have been scored, the fact that multiple opportunities were created was a plus.
Notably, although with numerous players missing due to illness or injury, United had a competitive team that entered the game with hope.
FA Cup Fever Sweeps DW Stadium:
The manager highlighted the importance of the FA Cup, stating that it is a major competition in which every club and manager desires to win.
The match took place in front of a sold-out crowd at DW Stadium, the venue’s highest crowd in over 10 years.
Wigan, who were in financial difficulties in the summer but were not harmed by local billionaire Mike Danson’s purchase of the club, wanted to cause an upset in the FA Cup.
The match drew an amazing 22,870 fans, the most since May 19, 2013, when Wigan played Aston Villa in the club’s final Premier League encounter. The atmosphere mirrored the game’s growing significance, with Wigan looking to make a statement despite previous losses.
Near miss sparks dreams: Wigan’s hopes rise as Onana denies perfect start
The home team almost got off to a perfect start when Thelo Aasgaard found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat, but Andre Onana, probably in his final game for United before joining the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, made a great save. This near miss raised hope among home supporters, who imagined Wigan, presently 18th in League One, pulling off their biggest FA Cup shock since troubling Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 1-0 in the fifth round at DW Stadium in 2018, when they were also a League One team. For Manchester United, the FA Cup represents their final chance to recover anything from a difficult season that has included 14 defeats.
Struggling in eighth place in the Premier League, their Carabao Cup defense ended in the last 16, and a poor Champions League campaign saw them finish last in their group, forcing them to step aside from European play before Christmas.
FA Cup Determination:
Recognizing the importance of the FA Cup, manager Erik ten Hag fielded his strongest eleven, and United proved that they were willing to defeat a team ranked 54 places lower in the English football system. Despite early wasted chances from Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford, United took the lead with Diogo Dalot’s amazing curling strike.
Wigan, led by Shaun Maloney, a member of the side that won the FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2013, under severe stress. They could have tied the game if Martial Godo had adjusted his feet sooner or Stephen Humphrys’ shot was headed into the bottom corner.
Wigan’s ability to recover Failed:
However, Wigan struggled to build a meaningful threat for a goal until Bruno Fernandes’ converted penalty secured Manchester United’s well-deserved and much-needed victory.
Manager Shaun Maloney had no qualms about the outcome or the penalty judgment, praising his players’ efforts. He acknowledged the challenge of playing a high-performing United team and admired the squad’s dedication under pressure. Maloney honored some strong individual efforts and hoped that the experience will help in the coming weeks. Despite the loss, he rated Manchester United’s attacking players as among the finest in the Premier League.
