PLAYING W
Wigan .............. 2 West Ham ............. 0 Grigg too hot to handle as Masuaku se
IT should be classed as a shock – but it wasn’t really.
Yes, Wigan are in League One and West Ham are 33 places above them in the Premier. But the Latics are famous FA Cup fighters, in form and top of their division. The Hammers were under strength and lacked firepower with attacking talents Marko Arnautovic, Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini, Diafra Sakho, Michail Antonio and Andre Ayew all missing.
And West Ham were reduced to 10 men in the 49th minute when Arthur Masuaku was sent off in disgrace.
So it was no surprise, really, when Paul Cook’s Wigan deservedly reached the fifth round through two goals from Will Grigg – sparking the famous Will Grigg’s On Fire song in the stands. They followed up their replay win against Bournemouth in the third round by claiming another top-flight scalp.
Hammers boss David Moyes knew that this was going to be a tough tie – and he was right. He stressed before the match: “I hope everyone is aware that Wigan are a good team.”
And his depleted side, with eight senior players not available through injury and others rested, soon discovered that their manager knew what he was talking about. Nathan Byrne crossed on the run from the right i Grigg met the ball England’s Joe Hart at
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Wigan continued to their Premier League came off second best when the ball was in t
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