City’s quadruple bid ends with Wigan loss
MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s pursuit of a quadruple ended on Monday when they were sur eliminated from the FA Cup by losing at third-division Wigan Athletic 1-0.
Wigan beat City in the 2013 FA Cup final, but this was an even bigger shock. Will Grigg’s late goal was enough for the League One side to pull off the upset in the fifth round. They host Southampton in the quarterfinals next month.
“We had to ride our luck with a couple of flashing crosses, but that’s what makes the FA Cup so special,” Wigan manager Paul Cook said. “Our lads deserve a lot of credit for the amount of work and the level of energy they put in. To beat a Man City team you have to do that.”
City were forced to play the second half with 10 men after Fabian Delph was red-carded on the stroke of halftime for a strong challenge on Max Power.
City manager Pep Guardiola accepted the referee’s decision and played down its significance.
“We played good in the second half even with 10 so the influence in terms of the way we played wasn’t too much,” he said. “Of course, with 11 it’s easier. We conceded one shot on target in 90 minutes and we lost. Football is like this.
While Delph’s red card led to Guardiola and Cook exchanging words on the touchline and in the tunnel at halftime, both managers said there wasn’t a problem.
“From our point of view we’re trying to get every edge in every-
thing we can,” Cook said.
City enjoyed 83 % possession and 29 shots to Wigan’s four, but could not take advantage. Sergio Aguero headed over early on and Ilkay Gundogan forced a good save from Christian Walton before miskicking from another good position.
City were further frustrated after the break and Grigg capitalised on a Kyle Walker error to win it for Wigan 11 minutes from time. The Northern Ireland international seized possession on halfway and charged upfield before slotting a shot past Claudio Bravo from the edge of the area.
Wigan survived a nervy finish, with the final whistle prompting a pitch invasion.