Wigan 0-2 Manchester United: Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes strike to send visitors into FA Cup fourth round

Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes converted two of Manchester United's 33 shots as Erik ten Hag's side saw off Wigan Athletic and advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Playing their first FA Cup away match for three years, United were utterly dominant at the DW Stadium and arguably should have been four or five clear at half-time.

As it was, 2013 winners Wigan remained in contention until Fernandes controversially scored from the spot in the 74th minute, with no VAR in place to scrutinise referee Anthony Taylor’s decision after the United captain went down under the softest of challenges.

United will hardly care, with last season’s runners-up going on to face non-league Eastleigh or Newport County of League Two next in the fourth round, where Tottenham will host holders Manchester City.

After Wigan carved out the tie’s first real chance it was United who chipped and chipped away against their League One opponents, taking a deserved lead in the 22nd minute through Dalot.

Both Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho would go on to hit the bar in a first half that ended with 17 United attempts but just the one goal to show for their supremacy.

United then made hard work of putting the game to bed after the break, but eventually Fernandes’ penalty killed the tie off.

A weird match. United are into the fourth round, they’ve avoided an upset, but on a night where they should have scored more it will hardly have improved their confidence in front of goal.

Particularly so for Hojlund, who just over a week since that seemingly breakthrough moment against Aston Villa was wasteful with a couple of opportunities in the first half.

TNT Sports' very own Ally McCoist thought Hojlund should have done better, while Roy Keane did not hold back at half-time.

"I’d be fuming with him. They’ve brought their habits in from the Premier League in terms of missing chances and not being clinical. With your striker, we can say unlucky all day, they’re great opportunities, put the ball in the back of the net, stop messing about!" Keane said on ITV.

Keane is never one to mince his words, and while Hojlund was not exactly “messing about”, this match goes down as a missed opportunity for the Dane to build some momentum.

It had the feel of a training match at times with Marcus Rashford, Fernandes and Garnacho all looking sharp and Kobbie Mainoo also impressing in midfield. At a push, Mainoo gets the nod for another calm and composed performance that defies his 18 years.

Wigan: Tickle 8, Sessegnon 6, Clare 6, Morrison 6, Hughes 6, Jones 6, Adeeko 5, Shaw 5, Aasgaard 7, Godo 7, Humphrys 6. Subs: Magennis 6, Smith 6, McManaman 6, Lang n/a.

Man Utd: Onana 7, Dalot 7, Wan-Bissaka 7, Varane 7, Evans 6, Mainoo 8, McTominay 7, Fernandes 8, Rashford 7, Garnacho 7, Hojlund 6. Subs: Kambwala n/a, Pellistri n/a, Hannibal n/a, Forson n/a.

4’ BIG SAVE! BIG CHANCE! Wigan break down the right and a terrific cross from Godo picks out Aasgaard, whose attempt is saved by the legs of Onana. A very early let-off for United!

15’ GREAT SAVE! Nice play from Rashford, who cuts onto his left and back onto his right inside the Wigan area before firing a low effort towards the near post. It has great power on it, but Tickle gets down quickly to parry it away – and nothing comes of the corner for United.

21’ WIDE! SOMEHOW!! Fernandes plays a lovely one-two with Dalot before picking out McTominay inside the area. He takes one touch and it bobbles ever so slightly as he wrong-foots Tickle and places it towards the far corner. However, it’s a little too far and somehow bounces wide of the post!

22’ GOAL! Wigan 0-1 Man Utd (Dalot): It was coming… United deserve that. Wigan can only half-clear a cross and it ends up with Rashford playing it back to Dalot on the edge of the area. The full-back takes a touch, opens his body up and curls an effort into the far bottom corner.

31’ OFF THE BAR! That’s a big miss from Hojlund, who heads against the bar from barely six yards out after Garnacho’s pin-point cross. It did seem easier to score…

41’ OFF THE BAR AGAIN! Some effort from distance from Garnacho, whose effort just evades the fingertips of Tickle but ends up rattling the bar! HOW have United not scored twice – or five times, for that matter. I should go on the xG hunt…

73’ PENALTY TO MAN UTD! Referee Anthony Taylor takes a good second or two here… but points to the spot after Shaw appears to get the slightest of touches on Fernandes. Again, there’s no VAR, so there’s no debate.

74’ GOAL! Wigan 0-2 Man Utd (Fernandes pen): Fernandes enjoyed that one – a huge roar. Wigan fans boo, United fans cheer. The visitors are two goals clear and basically into the FA Cup fourth round after Fernandes places it one way after Tickle dives the other way.

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