Southampton end Wigan’s fairytale FA Cup run
Mark Hughes had the desired impact on Southampton’s so-far forgettable season, leading the club into the FA Cup semi-finals four days after being appointed as Mauricio Pellegrino’s successor.
A second half goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was enough to take the veteran Welshman through to his first Wembley cup tie appearance of his long managerial career.
But the quarter-final again showed League One Wigan in a favourable light as they traded blows impressively with a team two divisions above them.
Ultimately, they were undone in the most routine of ways as Hojbjerg drilled in directly from a Dusan Tadic corner, some 15 yards out, on 62 minutes.
Hughes’s debut match might have been even more comfortable had Manolo Gabbiadini not seen a penalty kick saved magnificently by Christian Walton, flinging himself to his left soon after, but in a season of so many disappointments for the Premier League club, and victory was more than welcome.
Eventually, deep in added time, Cedric Soares did manage to give the scoreline a lopsided look, breaking upfield and pushing the ball past Dan Burn before advancing and finishing impressively from a wide angle.
Predictably, given a cup run that had seen them account for Bournemouth, West Ham and mighty Manchester City already at the DW Stadium this season, Wigan started strongly and came within inches of taking a deserved lead on 16 minutes after Nathan Byrne steered an effort just beyond the left-hand post.
It was an attack that continued an ambitious opening from Paul Cook’s side and, as a test of his new players’ mettle, Hughes could not have asked for more and Southampton could only offer their hosts a couple of anxious moments before the break. One was self-inflicted by Wigan as goalkeeper Walton dropped an early free-kick from Sofiane Boufal, making up for his error by blocking Guido Carrillo as he attempted to turn in the rebound.
Boufal and Tadic also linked well to set up the former for a shot which curled just over, drawing enthusiastic applause from Hughes in the Saints’ technical area.
Still Wigan almost took a deserved first half lead when Max Power’s left-wing corner appeared to be curling into the top corner of the Saints’ net at the near post until keeper Alex McCarthy tipped over.
With his team largely outplayed in that opening period, Hughes had an important team talk to give and duly gave it.
The Saints looked instantly improved after the restart with a couple of Boufal moments causing panic in the Wigan area, leading to a spell of pressure in the build-up to the opening goal.
Prior to Hojbjerg’s heroics, Boufal curled a free-kick narrowly over before, on 57 minutes, Gabbiadini squandered a glorious opportunity.
A poor back pass from Byrne landed at the feet of the Southampton forward barely eight yards out but, with only Walton to beat, the Italian was denied by an excellent save by the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.
It was indicative of a momentum shift in the tie, however and, just after the hour, Tadic’s corner was met by Hojbjerg’s header which was tipped over by the keeper for another flag kick which led to the same player scoring. Not that Wigan had been outclassed in the second half and, before going behind, there was a Michael Jacobs shot that just cleared the bar and excellent link-up play between Grigg and Massey which ended with the latter shooting narrowly wide.
But, as the hosts pressed, a Southampton break always looked possible and Gabbiadini should have settled the tie after 72 minutes when he was brought down by Burn, having been played clean through by Ryan Bertrand, only to see his penalty attempt saved.
In a spirited late response, a late Noel Hunt shot was headed clear by Wesley Hoedt, seconds before Southampton broke upfield to score their second.