A NIGHT TO SAVOUR FOR MAX & SON!
MAX Power played a pivotal role as Wigan sensationally dumped megabucks Man City out of the FA Cup. Luckily for his little lad, the City stars didn’t hold it against him!
Power, 24, was clattered by Fabian Delph shortly before halftime in Monday’s clash at the DW, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to produce a debatable red card.
After tempers frayed on the touchline, a goal from Will Grigg then ended Pep Guardiola’s dreams of an unprecedented quadruple.
Luckily for Max Junior, who idolises Sergio Aguero, the controversy was quickly forgotten as he got to meet his Premier League heroes.
“Max is five and football-mad,” explained Power. “Normally, he can’t go to night games, but it’s half-term at the moment so he was allowed a late night.
“He even managed to get himself on the pitch during the invasion, then followed me down the tunnel and into the changing rooms.
“He was desperate to see Aguero and waited in the tunnel for him. He ended up getting his programme signed by loads of City players.
“Fair play to them – they all took the time to say hello and have a chat, even after they’d got beat.
Pulsating
“The only downside was Max got absolutely hyper. I’d only just got to sleep after the game and he was up again, bouncing round the house in his Wigan kit!”
Young Max wasn’t the only one bouncing after a pulsating night that rekindled memories of Wigan’s shock FA Cup final win over City in 2013.
The Premier League leaders had 82 per cent possession and 29 shots but could not breach a back four that blocked and tackled with the ferocity of NFL line-backers.
Grigg then despatched Wigan’s only shot of the second half – his seventh goal in seven Cup games – to set up a quarter-final against Southampton.
“It’s up there with one of the biggest Cup upsets I can remember in my lifetime,” adds Power.
“The FA Cup gets questioned a lot. Is the romance still there? Has it lost its aura?
“But you ask any player, especially someone who’s come from the lower leagues like me, and nothing beats nights like that.
“No-one gave us a chance. You’re sitting at home, watching Man City beat Basel 4-0 in the Champions League. Then you see Hull go 3-0 down to Chelsea after half an hour. I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a bit of fear.
“But, on the night, the lads were incredible. Now we’ve come this far, we’re in it to win it. If you can’t take confidence from beating Man City, you never will.”
As for the incident with Delph, Power feels Taylor made the right call.
“I’ve never been one to try and get someone sent off,” insists the former Tranmere midfielder. “And I don’t mind a tackle, either. It’s a contact sport and I don’t mind taking one.
“When the ball first fell loose, I actually thought it was a chance for a solid 50-50 between the pair of us. When I got there first, I shocked myself. I don’t normally have the pace for that!
“On a different day, it’s a yellow card. But, if you go in with studs up, you’re giving the ref a decision to make. The studs were high and I’ve got a big gash on my shin to prove it. Watching back, I think it was a red.
“Did it help us? Probably, but they had 82 per cent possession with ten men, so I don’t think it massively changed the game. For most of that second half, it felt like they had 15 players, not ten!”