FA Cup: Manchester United beat Wigan in third round, set to face Newport County or Eastleigh in next round
Manchester United eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag by ensuring there was no FA Cup third round shock in a 2-0 win at League One Wigan on Monday.
Diogo Dalot's first-half strike and a controversial penalty from Bruno Fernandes secured United's first away win since November.
The Red Devils were also handed a favourable fourth round draw against either non-league Eastleigh or Newport County of League Two in Monday's draw.
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This competition represents United's final shot at silverware this season and could prove a lifeline for Ten Hag with his side struggling in the Premier League and already dumped out of Europe.
«The FA Cup is all about winning, it is knockout. You want to finish the job,» said Ten Hag. «That is what I said in the dressing room: 'job done'.»
The visitors were rarely troubled at the DW Stadium bar an early effort from Thelo Aasgaard that tested Andre Onana, who had stayed behind for two more United matches before heading off for Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
United slowly started to take control as Sam Tickle produced a brilliant save to deny Marcus Rashford before Scott McTominay prodded inches wide.
Rashford has shown flashes of finding his form in recent weeks and it was from the England international's pass that Dalot curled into the far corner on 22 minutes.
United should have had the tie wrapped up by half-time as Rasmus Hojlund thundered a header off the crossbar before Alejandro Garnacho's speculative effort also came back off the woodwork.
«In the first half I think we created five or six very good chances. I think it was very good football,» added Ten Hag.
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