Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United England FA Cup

Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, despite a spirited display from the League One side.

Wigan started brightly, nearly drawing first blood within minutes, but United found their footing and Diogo Dalot opened the scoring with a stunning 22nd-minute strike, curling the ball into the bottom corner. The Red Devils dominated the first half, peppering Wigan’s goal with shots but lacking a clinical touch.

The second half saw more of the same, with United pressing for a second. Alejandro Garnacho rattled the crossbar with a beautiful left-footed effort, while Rasmus Hojlund missed a string of chances. A controversial penalty awarded to Bruno Fernandes in the 74th minute put the game to bed, Fernandes coolly converting from the spot.

Wigan had their moments, with Thelo Aasgaard forcing a good save from Andre Onana, but ultimately United saw out the win with relative ease.

The match saw glimpses of Erik ten Hag’s attacking vision, with intricate passing sequences and dangerous runs into the box. However, wasteful finishing will be a concern for the manager, especially against sterner opposition.

Next up for United is a Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur, while Wigan face Northampton Town in League One. Both teams will be keen to turn their attention to different challenges, but for now, it’s Manchester United celebrating their progress in the FA Cup.