MANCHESTER UNITED started their 2023/24 FA Cup journey against League One side Wigan – and they comfortably went through to the next round.
Diego Dalot’s delicious first-half strike put the Red Devils in front.
And Bruno Fernandes’ penalty sealed the deal which means United will play either Eastleigh or Newport County.
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- Wigan XI: Tickle; Clare, Hughes, Morrison, Sessegnon; Shaw, Adeeko; Godo, Asagaard, Jones; Humphrys
- Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
- FA Cup fourth round draw in FULL
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Red Devils need to change focus
Man Utd entertain Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
If they hold any hope of finishing in a league position to qualify for Europe next season, they need to find some consistency.
That starts this weekend as they welcome Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs to Manchester.
Nothing but victory will do for Erik ten Hag, with the new owners watching.
Glimmers of hope for fans
Over the course of the game, you would have to say United did dominate the game and could have scored plenty more.
Rashford looked more like a player who had a hunger to try and score goals and over the course of the game had four shots on target.
Garnacho looked dangerous, as ever, but he probably has been the one shining light of this disappointing season so far.
All that said, the reality is that Man Utd were playing a League One team today and given the strength of the side they put out should be scoring more goals.
Boss gives his view on victory
The Dutch manager spoke about his side’s win at Wigan:
Hojlund still struggling for form
While the result was all that mattered tonight, Man Utd’s misfiring striker continued to struggle to find the net.
Many ex-footballers, particularly strikers, often say ‘if you keep getting yourself in the box the goals will come’.
This seems to be part of the problem for Hojlund as he isn’t making those runs often enough and picks the ball up in areas where he cannot hurt the opponents.
He had two big chances to score today, one which he headed over the bar and the other where he managed to put it wide when he had a mainly open goal to aim for.
The jury is still well and truly out on the Red Devils’ marquee summer signing.
View from the DW Stadium
Goals from Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes were enough to book United a place in the fourth round in comfortable style.
But Erik ten Hag will be concerned that his forwards Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund both had nights to forget.
It would not have flattered the Red Devils if they had scored a hatful but they wasted countless opportunities.
Latics keeper Sam Tickle and the woodwork prevented the visitors running away with it.
Nobody could deny United were worthy winners though against a spirited but limited Wigan side.
FT: Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
It was a comfortable win in the end for Man Utd but against better sides they may have paid for their poor finishing.
Hojlund failed to score after getting his first Premier League goal after over 1000 minutes of football.
They now face either Eastleigh or Newport in the fourth round.
FT: Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
The referee brings the game to a close.
It is a routine win for Man Utd in a game they dominated.
Wigan gave a good account of themselves but they were always going to struggle against Man Utd’s first eleven.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
90+2. Forson and Hannibal come on for the visitors.
Was well worth the latter player asking not to be included in Tunisia’s AFCON squad to establish himself at Old Trafford.
No doubt these two minutes will be integral to that.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
90. Diogo Dalot is awarded the player of the match award.
It was his goal that opened the scoring with a sublime strike earlier in the game.
We are going to have four additional minutes at the DW Stadium.
Credit: Alamy
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
88. Man Utd’s fans start singing ‘we’re going to Wembley’.
That may well happen if they can avoid drawing any side from the Premier League or top half of the Championship for the rest of the FA Cup.
Wigan continue to come forward looking for what would surely only be a consolation now.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
86. Hojlund feeds the ball to Rashford who looks to drop the shoulder and beat his man.
He gets to the byline and looks to cut it back into the box.
Wigan defend it well at the expense of a corner.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
84. Aasgaard has a shot from the edge of the box but it is always curling away from goal.
Onana goes down to make the save but then pulls away from it.
Man Utd are just looking to run down the clock now.
View from the DW Stadium
Finally United have breathing space – thanks to the skipper Bruno Fernandes.
The longer it went on with just a goal in it, the more Wigan would be fancying their chances of a replay.
Midfield pair McTominay and Mainoo had both missed chances in the second half – but Wigan had a couple of moments too
Yet Fernandes was becoming more influential and he won the spot-kick inside the last 20 minutes and then sent Tickle the wrong way from the spot.
A fourth round tie with Newport or Eastleigh is now in the bag for Erik ten Hag’s men.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
82. Garnacho twists and turns on the left-hand side of the box.
He tries to get a shot away but Tickle turns it behind for a corner.
The keeper has a solid game for Wigan this evening.
Credit: PA Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
80. Credit where it’s due to Wigan, they have made a real cup tie of this.
Man Utd have also played a big part with their poor finishing of course while we are doing shout-outs.
Erik ten Hag’s side have one foot in the fourth round now.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
78. Wigan are trying to throw more bodies forward now.
McManaman and Garnacho have a coming together.
Nothing doing as play continues.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
76. That goal pretty much puts this game to bed now.
It has to be said had this game been played with VAR, they would not have overruled the referee, that’s not their vibe.
After all, the technology does not check whether it was a penalty or not in those instances but whether the referee has made a ‘clear and obvious error’.
Wigan 0-2 Man Utd
74. Wigan can feel hard done by there with no VAR.
While there was contact, there was definitely not enough to send Fernandes to the floor.
He steps up after his miraculous recovery to slot the ball home.
One step closer to the Ballon D’Floor.
Goal – Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Penalty to Man Utd
Wigan 0-1 Man Utd
70. Man Utd are looking to over-complicate things in the final third over and over again.
Too often looking to walk the ball into the back of the net.
This is starting have a bit of an Arsenal v Liverpool feeling to this game where they could be punished for their inability to score.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag shows the bench some snowflakes he’s spotted.
Credit: PA
Wigan 0-1 Man Utd
68. Hojlund picks up the ball and runs into the box, being forced wider and wider.
The Danish striker looks to shoot and it is an easy save for Tickle.
Might be overselling that calling it a save, more picking the ball up from the turf.
Wigan 0-1 Man Utd
66. Both McTominay and Fernandes have chances in quick succession to put the game to bed.
Wigan defend well and deflect the efforts behind for a corner.
As the hosts clear their lines Godo races clear but can only force a corner for Wigan.
Wigan 0-1 Man Utd
64. United look to switch play with Onana.
His ball out to the wing is only about ten feet over his teammates head.
Man Utd fans must really be looking forward to AFCON.
Wigan 0-1 Man Utd
62. Wigan come forward with the home fans getting behind them.
Aasgaard looks to advance but a poor touch gives the ball away.
Man Utd counter and Mainoo shoots from outside the box but Tickle gets down into the bottom corner to make a good save.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
