United thump Wigan 4-0 to qualify for fifth round of FA Cup

English FA Cup holders Manchester United have qualified for the fifth round of the competition after thrashing Championship club Wigan Athletic 4-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling, Henrikh Mkhitaryan & Bastian Schweinsteiger scored a goal each to give the home team a deserved victory.

Fellaini got on the end of Schweinsteiger’s cross to put the Red Devils ahead just before half-time. Smalling made it 2-0 less than ten minutes into the second-half following a cross from Anthony Martial, who set up Mkhitaryan to tap in the third in. And Schweinsteiger, who marked his first United start for a year, completed the scoring with an overhead kick.

“We deserved to win. The first half wasn’t very good but we managed to lead 1-0 when we needed to play better. We knew they would be organised and play with aggression, would be very compact, and to break that down we needed to change a few things,” said United boss, Jose Mourinho, after the match.

Read Also: FA Cup: Arsenal thrash Southampton 5-0

Speaking also to reporters after their defeat, Wigan manager Warren Joyce said his side was good in the game until a first half last minute goal went in from their opponents.

“In the first half, we gave as good as we got and had the best opportunities. The game-plan was working, so we are disappointed to lose.

“We had good chances, the best chances really, certainly up to half-time. The timing of the first goal was unfortunate, then straight after the break we concede another poor goal,” he stated.

Other FA Cup ties of Sunday saw Sutton United win Leeds United 1-0, Fulham defeated Hull 4-1 after Hernandez missed two penalties in a minute, and Millwall triumphed over Watford by 1-0 victory.

Hence, the teams left in the competition include, Millwall, Fulham, Sutton United, Manchester United, Wolves, Blackburn, Burnley, Chelsea, Manchester City, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Huddersfield, Tottenham, Arsenal, Derby or Leicester.

The eight fifth-round ties are due to be played between Friday 17 February and Monday 20 February, and the last-16 draw will hold on Monday.

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