Goals from Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes saw Manchester United cruise past Wigan in a 2-0 win at the DW Stadium, to reach the Fourth Round of 2023-24 FA Cup.
Dalot fired a dominant United in front from Marcus Rashford’s 22nd minute pass after the latter saw his first shot blocked by Sean Clare.
Fernandes wrapped up Utd’s win with a 74th minute penalty after he was fouled by Liam Shaw two minutes earlier.
Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils will now visit either Newport County or Eastleigh in the Fourth Round, following a lacklustre draw where Tottenham drew Manchester City in the only other notable tie.
Despite two tiers separating Wigan and Man Utd in the football pyramid, Shaun Maloney’s Latics almost took a third minute lead but Thelo Aasgaard saw his shot blocked twice by Andre Onana after he met Martial Godo’s low cross across the box.
Man Utd soon took control but lacked much end product until Fernandes and Dalot combined in the 20th minute to find Scott McTominay, but the Scotland midfielder flicked his shot wide of the bottom-right corner.
That chance sparked further belief within Utd which paid off two minutes later as Alejandro Garnacho’s cross found Rashford on the left, whose first shot was blocked by Sean Clare but he regathered possession and teed up Dalot to sweep into the bottom right corner to put Utd ahead.
Rashford went on to see three further shots go begging – including a 36th minute shot which drew a deflected save from Sam Tickle, yet Rasmus Højlund could only flick the rebounding ball wide from close-range.
Garnacho almost doubled Utd’s lead before half-time but his 40th minute curled strike ricochetted off the crossbar, as Wigan rode their luck until the break with an one-goal deficit.
Ten Hag’s Man Utd continued to dominate the second half as McTominay headed wide from a 54th minute corner, before he and Kobbie Mainoo saw shots denied whilst Mainoo blocked Godo’s shot from a 67th minute counter-attack by Wigan.
Wigan’s desperate hopes of snatching at least a draw and replay were eventually ended in the 72nd minute when Liam Shaw fouled Fernandes to concede a spot-kick, and Fernandes stepped up two minutes later to fire his penalty into the bottom-left corner to double Utd’s lead.
Garnacho almost wrapped up victory with a 83rd minute strike but Tickle punched the ball behind, yet Utd continued to push for a third goal which ultimately failed to materialise as they cruised through to the Fourth Round.
What’s Next?
Wigan resume their League One campaign with a trip to Northampton on Saturday 13 January at 3pm GMT.
Man Utd host Tottenham at Old Trafford in a Premier League clash on Sunday 14 January at 4pm GMT.
Teams
Wigan: Sam Tickle, Sean Clare, Charlie Hughes, Liam Morrison, Stephen Sessegnon, Liam Shaw (Smith 78′), Baba Adeeko, Martial Godo, Thelo Aasgaard, Jordan Jones (McManaman 78′), Stephen Humphrys (Magennis 59′)
Substitutes: Ben Amos, Jason Kerr, James Carragher, Luke Robinson, Callum McManaman, Jonny Smith, Callum Lang, Josh Magennis, Charlie Wyke
Man Utd: Andre Onana, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Diogo Dalot (Kambwala 83′), Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho (Pellistri 87′), Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund (Forson 90+2′), Marcus Rashford (Hannibal 90+2′)
Substitutes: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Rhys Bennett, Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson, Hannibal Mejbri, Facundo Pellistri, Shola Shoretire, Joe Hugill
Referee – Anthony Taylor
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