Manchester United 2-0 Wigan Athletic (8 Jan, 2024) Game Analysis

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes scored in either half to secure a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round on a freezing night at the DW Stadium on Monday.

Victory against the third division side was a welcome relief for the 12-time FA Cup winners, who are out of Europe and the Carabao Cup and languishing eighth in the Premier League.

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“The FA Cup is all about winning, it's about knockouts. You want to finish the job. That's what I said in the dressing room, 'job done',” the United manager said, Erik ten Hag, at ITV.

United will then visit the winners of the third round replay between League Two (fourth tier) Newport County and National League (fifth tier) Eastleigh FC in the fourth round.

Ten Hag's side comfortably avoided an eighth defeat in 14 away matches in all competitions since last season's FA Cup final, lost to neighbors Manchester City.

Dalot scored in the 22nd minute at Wigan when Marcus Rashford blocked a shot before laying the ball back to the Portuguese, who took a touch before finding the bottom corner of the net just outside the penalty area.

“It gave us more confidence,” Dalot said. “We needed to score to be calmer and not rush to score. We created a lot and we could have scored more. That's what we lacked today.”

Fernandes doubled United's lead in the 74th with a penalty after Liam Shaw caught the captain's foot in the box.

United also wasted numerous chances.

“Oh, certainly [we should have scored more]”, Ten Hag said. “In the first half I think we created five or six very good chances. I think it was very good football.

“We should have taken more, but if you don't score you have to stay focused and I think we did that tonight.”

Rashford briefly celebrated what he thought was a goal, but goalkeeper Sam Tickle dove to collect the ball on the line.

His compatriot Rasmus Hojlund was frustrated by three near misses before half-time, while winger Alejandro Garnacho fired a shot that ricocheted off the bar.

Former United captain Roy Keane said he “would be furious” with Hojlund if he was Ten Hag.

“These are big chances. Stop messing around. Put the ball in the back of the net,” Keane told ITV.

Ten Hag's team had 33 shots, 14 of which were on target, compared to Wigan's nine. Rashford had eight attempts, four of which were on target.

League One side Wigan beat Manchester City at Wembley to win the 2013 FA Cup in one of the competition's major upsets. But they were outplayed by United despite their best efforts.

“Proud of my players,” said Wigan manager Shaun Maloney. “Tough match, but a brilliant experience for our players.”