Summary
City are through to the fifth round ofn the cup after Andy Cole’s typically clinical finish late in the game calmed the nerves. It had been a quiet game up until then, with few real chances apart from James’ great save to deny Roberts, and Francis will be rueing his shot that slammed the bar from the rebound.
Team news: The starting line up for the home side was unchanged from last week, but on the bench was Nicky Weaver, freshly returned from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Young Micah Richards was a replacement for the second time this season.
For Wigan, Jason Roberts dropped to the bench following his exertions at Highbury, so up front was Neil Mellor, son of former City player Ian. Pollitt, impressive on Boxing Day, was also benched.
The Match
The game kicked off in bright but chilly conditions, with the visitors in their yellow away kit.
City started well, making several forays down the right, and Barton l,ooked to have a shooting chance after three minutes but was hustled away of danger by the defence.
The first shooting opportunity came on six minutes, with Barton’s backheel finding Vassell. The striker crossed fro Cole but the number nine could not quite reach for the header. The ball quickly returned to Ireland, who shot just over from the edge of the box.
A neat touch from Riera set up another attack after 11 minutes, but from the resulting corner the Spanish winger could only find Filan in the Wigan goal.
City were having the better of the play in the opening 15 minutes, and Sinclair crossed towards Cole again but once more Filan was in the right place for Wigan.
A fantastic crossfield ball from Cole found Sinclair after 23 minutes but his pass towards Sun Jihai was just too strong and rolled out, much to the dismay of the crowd, still waiting for something to liven up the game.
Vassell broke down the right after 28 minutes, but could only force a corner with Riera free in the box. City created nothing from the kick, with Riera missing a pass back to him and the ball rolling out of play.
Mellor looked to be in with a chance with 31 on the clock, but the striker’s cross drifted harmlessly away from James, Wigan’s first dangerous moment of any description.
Cole found Riera in space with eight minutes of the half left, but sprinting into the box the winger missed his kick completely. But he made amends seconds later, crossing well for Vassell, but the striker was inches away from getting a touch inside the six yard box.
Half time - 0-0
Riera got to the by-line after three minutes of the new half and was close to finding Cole, but Filan punched away as he collided with a defender and Cole himself.
With six minutes gone, Scharner conceded an indirect free kick with a back pass eight yards in front of goal. Sinclair rolled the ball to Dunne but his fierce shot struck the massed ranks of Wigan defenders parked on the line and rebounded away.
Sylvain Distin rose well to an Ireland corner on 57 minutes, but there was not enough power and the ball looped into Filan’s hands.
Jason Roberts replaced Mellor with 58 on the clock, and then Wright-Phillips was introduced for Vassell seconds later.
The young striker went down for treatment within two minutes having taken a hefty challenge, but returned to the fray moving freely.
Paul Jewell replaced Mahon with Bullard on 65 minutes, and three minutes later Musampa came on for Riera. Jewell responded by bringing on Henchoz for Skoko.
But the crowd sprang to life with 19 minutes left, Roberts being denied by a great stop from James with his legs, and from the rebound Francis struck the bar from only a few yards out. A minute later Sinclair found Wright-Phillips, but his header brought a fine save out of Filan.
With 13 minutes left Wigan thought they had the lead after Johanson lifted the ball in but he was flagged offside.
City went on the attack shortly after, but Wright-Phillips’ cross from the right could not find any of his colleagues, and a minute later he was chasing to the byline but the ball just eluded him.
Sibierski came on for Ireland with nine minutes to go.
And with seven minutes left City took the lead through Andy Cole! Wright-Phillips broke on the right, found his partner who took a second to steady himself and fire home from about 14 yards out to send the City faithful into ecstasy!
Wigan pressed but the Blues were able to repel boarders, although the crowd were angry at some decisions from the referee not going their way, particularly when Jackson looked to have held back Barton.
Scharner nearly got the equalizer on 90 when he outjumped James, but his header went well over. In stoppage time, the same player’s cross-cum-shot eluded everybody in the box to massed relief from the home fans.
