Sako finds form to tip tie in rare start

DARREN Moore was delighted for Bakary Sako after the Mali international scored his first goal for West Brom to help them overcome Wigan in the third round.

Sako headed the winner after half an hour of the tie at the Hawthorns and could have had a second goal after the break only to see his shot saved before his follow-up was cleared off the line.

Moore made nine changes for the tie with Sako getting a rare start after signing in the summer following his release by Crystal Palace.

Moore said: “Bakary has had to sit and watch. We’ve got him here and we’ve got him fit. We are starting to see the speed of him, the mobility of him. I am delighted for him that he has scored his goal.

“He was a constant menace with his pace and power. That game and goal have done him the world of good.”

Wigan’s best moments came before the Baggies scored as Will Grigg forced a low save out of Jonathan Bond after 10 minutes. From the resulting corner Chey Dunkley headed over, but the visitors rarely troubled the home team after that.

Just before the half hour Chris Brunt curled a free-kick towards the top right corner of the Wigan goal, but Jamie Jones stretched to tip it over for a corner.

Wigan failed to properly clear Brunt’s corner from the left and when the West Brom captain curled the ball back in Sako’s header went in via the bar for his first Baggies goal with 31 minutes on the clock.

Sako should have doubled his side’s advantage eight minutes into the second half, but after being sent clear his shot was blocked by the legs of Jones before the striker’s follow-up was cleared on the line by Dunkley.

Wigan manager Paul Cook said his side would concentrate on staying in the Sky Bet Championship after going out of the cup.

Cook said: “It was a tough game for us in general.

“We started well, we often start games really well, we miss a chance or two and then we get punished. The players are doing everything they can in games.

“We have clear water in our focus. We must show the unity to keep us in the division.

“The focus is on the target of the achievement of staying in the league.”