WILL POWER GOAL HERO GRIGG KNOCKS MANCHESTER CITY OUT OF THE FA CUP
MANCHESTER City’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple went up in smoke last night as on-fire Northern Ireland international Will Grigg sent them crashing out of the FA Cup.
Striker Grigg shocked 10man City as he latched onto a stray pass to score a 79th-minute winner for League One outfit Wigan Athletic.
Grigg, who netted a brace to knock West Ham out in the last round, said: “I caught the offside trap and it was a nice little race with Kyle Walker. I am a goalscorer, if I get a chance I’ll score them. The FA Cup has been brilliant to me.”
Premier League runaway leaders City, packed full of world class talent, were reduced to 10 men just before half-time when Fabian Delph was controversially sent off.
Grigg, who hopes his recent form will earn him a recall to Michael O’Neill’s squad for the Northern Ireland friendly against South Korea next month, joked: “It was a nice, easy game for us! No, it was an unbelievable performance by the lads. It was brilliant.
“Even before the sending off we were playing really well. It comes at a good time but it’s one of those things.
“Against a side like that — you can see in the second half that they’ve dominated possession.
“They’ve got some unbelievable players, some of the best players in the world and we defended unbelievably well.”
Birmingham-born Grigg conceded that Wigan, who defeated City in the FA Cup final five years ago, hadn’t given themselves much hope of upsetting the odds.
Grigg admitted: “To be honest, probably not. We worked really hard. The gaffer and the staff have put a great game plan together.”
Grigg’s Wigan boss Paul Cook played down the spat with City counterpart Pep Guardiola which followed Delph’s red card.
The two managers exchanged words on the touchline and in the tunnel when the first half came to an end.
Cook said: “There’s no problems. From our point of view we’re trying to get every edge in
everything we can. From Pep’s point of view he wants the game played, and correctly so.
“We wish them well fighting on all fronts because they represent English football so well.”
Guardiola, on Delph’s dismissal, said: “Red card. It was the decision and nothing happened (between him and Cook).”
The City boss was magnanimous in defeat, adding: “It was like a final. They had one shot on target. I don’t have regrets with the way we played, the performance, the heart. I judge my players on intentions, not results, and the intentions were good.
“Wigan won, congratulations to them and now we rest to prepare for the League Cup final.”
Sergio Aguero was involved in a clash with a Wigan fan as ugly scenes marred the end of the game.
Fans spilled onto the pitch as the hosts celebrated their win.
Supporters from both clubs were involved in disturbances, while television pictures appeared to show a home supporter and striker Aguero involved in a physical exchange.
Advertising hoardings were ripped out and thrown and a pitch invasion by Wigan fans got out of hand while the City players were being escorted off.
Video footage also appeared to show objects, including an advertising board, being thrown at police by fans in the City end.