It was a bittersweet homecoming for Warren Joyce as his Championship side Wigan Athletic lost their fourth round FA Cup game to Manchester United. Training the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford as coach of the United reserve team, the English manager left for his new job at Wigan just two months ago.
Winning their previous three games, Wigan started with an intent to unsettle the defending champions as they pushed and prodded past Jose Mourinho’s men. With their 16-game unbeaten run over, United looked uncertain and allowed the visitors to control the game. Even though Wigan were the better side in the first half, quality prevailed over effort and Marouane Fellaini gave his team the lead just before the break.
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Chris Smalling, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Bastian Schweinsteiger also added to the tally ending the night with a 4-0 victory. With United through to the final 16, here are the five major talking points:
#1 Manchester United’s lineup
With a gruelling schedule in the weeks to come, Mourinho quite predictably rotated his squad and made nine changes from the side that lost to Hull City in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final. In spite of going through on that occasion, the Special One picked an unusual yet strong side that included out-of-favour Bastian Schweinsteiger. In fact, only Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo remained from the starting XI in midweek.
Wayne Rooney made a rare start after he was awarded a memento for his 250 goals by Sir Bobby Charlton. Anthony Martial also made the cut as did Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Luke Shaw, Sergio Romero, Juan Mata and Luke Shaw.
His starting lineup wasn't the only thing surprising as he introduced academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe from the bench. The Congolese defender wasn't the only one who made his first senior team appearance as Joel Castro came on to replace the injured Romero as well.
The former Chelsea manager is famous for sticking to asmall squad and ignoring youth players but it was a different man who stood in Uniteds technical area tonight. Utilising his vast squad, the Portuguese finally seems to be resorting to new tricks.
#2 A game of two halves
Whether it was the spate of surprise results over the weekend, their own defeat to Hull or the unfamiliarity of playing with each other, but United’s starting XI looked visibly nervous as the game kicked off. Wigan, on the other hand, made a positive start as they cornered their opposition and dispossessed them repeatedly. The Latics were quick and eager as they controlled the flow of the game leaving United with very little time on the ball.
The hosts themselves were rather dull as they struggled to find any sense of purpose and satisfied themselves with passing the ball around interspersed with the occasional crosses near the penalty area. With very little to show for, it was Joyce’s outfit that looked more likely to score and registered the games first shot on target. Even though Mkhitaryan and Mata were presented with goalscoring opportunities their attempts were wide off the mark.
However, Fellaini’s goal on the cusp of halftime changed the dynamics of the game. As the visitors grew more apprehensive, United became imperious as they no longer looked vulnerable. Dominating possession and the rhythm of the game, Mourinho’s men pulled up their socks and got the job done in spectacular fashion.
#3 The surprise entrant
Even though Mourinho had hinted that Schweinsteiger may be involved in their FA Cup campaign, a start for the former German international seemed unlikely considering how far down the pecking order he had fallen. The last time the midfielder had started a game was January 2016 in the third round draw of the FA Cup with Sheffield Wednesday under Louis van Gaal.
Confined to making just two appearances from the bench under the Portuguese, the former German international was granted his first start this season and he sure made the most of it.
After his competent performance, Mourinho should value him for his eagerness to get the job done. A straightforward cross towards the end of the first half found Fellaini, who scored. Schweinsteiger himself had a chance to score later in the second half but mishit his shot woefully. The German finally found the mark a little later with United's fourth to help paint a deceivingly pretty picture.
His bicycle kick goal aside, the midfielder displayed the kind of pragmatism and functionality Mourinho seems to prefer and the United boss has gone so far as to include the German in United’s Europa League squad after leaving him out for the first part of the tournament.
#4 Wigan’s feisty start
Wigan Athletic put on a spirited display in the first half that had viewers all over the world wondering if United were about to choke like so many others this week. Midfielder Sam Morsy, who may not even have been playing for Wigan now, was their best player on the pitch, as he proved to be a thorn in United’s side. Recalled from loan at Barnsley, Joyce offered the Egyptian a contract extension upon his arrival and after his performance today it’s no wonder why.
Despite breaking through the oppositions stacked midfield on numerous occasions, though, Morsy failed to make an impact where it mattered most.
Right-back Callum Connolly was another standout performer. On loan from Everton, the U-19 England defender made some outstanding tackles and interceptions that make him one to look out for in the future. Max Power and Michael Jacobs also contributed to Wigan’s great start.
However, once United had the lead, the visitors found it difficult to mount a comeback. Crumbling to a more superior side in the second half, the Latics will feel they deserved something better than an embarrassing 4-0 scoreline.
#5 Martial in or out?
After being left out of the starting lineup for the last two games, Mourinho gave Anthony Martial another chance to prove himself in the fourth round tie. Amid rumours of a possible move to Sevilla on loan, the United boss said Martial would have to be magnificent if he wanted a spot in the league squad in a press conference on Friday.
Martial’s test started out on the wrong note as he barely had any impact on the game as a centre forward. The 21-year-old lost possession repeatedly as he was unable to hold up play and met most deliveries with inaccurate touches. The second half, however, saw him move out to the left as Rooney was pushed up as a striker and the impact of the change was immediate.
With space and defenders to run at on the left wing, the Frenchman got into the thick of things making two assists for his team. He finished off his swift passage on the left flank in the 57th minute with a cross that found Chris Smalling.
His assist for Mkitaryan’s goal came just minutes later as a counter-attack saw Martial set through. Holding up the ball till the Armenian's arrival, the winger applied just the right amount of power to enable a simple tap in for the third goal of the night.
While his participation proved to be crucial against Wigan, only time will tell if it is good enough to earn him a start against Hull City on Wednesday.
