Wigan Athletic 3-0 Bournemouth
- Published
- comments
League One leaders Wigan produced an FA Cup third-round shock as they claimed a deserved victory over Premier League Bournemouth at the DW Stadium.
The Cherries had forced a replay with a 92nd-minute equaliser on 6 January but could find no way back after Sam Morsy fired the Latics ahead.
Substitute Dan Burn's shot in off the bar made it 2-0 before Callum Elder's header secured a fine win.
Bournemouth were poor as Wigan booked a fourth-round home tie with West Ham.
Ryan Fraser was denied by keeper Jamie Jones early in the second half but the Cherries can have no complaints after a terrible showing.
Wigan Cook-ing up something special
West Ham will face a Wigan side full of confidence when David Moyes' team travel to the DW Stadium in the next round on 27 January.
Paul Cook's side are unbeaten in 13 league and cup games after rewarding their fans who braved the incessant rain with a handsome victory over top-flight opposition.
Wigan kept it tight on their way to an 18th clean sheet of the season before frustrating Bournemouth once captain Morsy opened the scoring after Will Grigg's flick was saved by Artur Boruc.
The 2013 winners took the game to the visitors and were rewarded with a memorable victory.
Burn had been on the pitch two minutes when he produced an instinctive finish after Max Power's delivery before Elder's powerful close-range header sealed a thoroughly miserable night for Eddie Howe's side.
Wigan have experienced three relegations - and one promotion - since winning the competition four years ago, yet with the club three points clear at the top of League One, they are moving in the right direction under Cook.
"Full credit to my players, they produced a fantastic work ethic," Cook told BBC Sport.
"Dan Burn was sent on to make sure Bournemouth didn't score. He wasn't sent on to score.
"West Ham have had a couple of great results and will look at the FA Cup to get some silverware."
Experienced Cherries bow out without a fight
After losing 3-0 at Millwall last January, this is the second successive season that Bournemouth, 13th in the top flight, have gone out of the FA Cup to League One opposition in the third round.
Howe made eight changes to the side that came from behind to beat Arsenal on Sunday, yet the Cherries' starting line-up still had 91 Premier league appearances between them this season.
"When you look at the quality we had on the pitch, no way should we have lost by that score," said an angry Howe afterwards. "We underperformed.
"Right now it feels tough. When you lose any game, you want your players to feel hurt."
Against Arsenal, they had shown real spirit and fight but those ingredients were missing as their poor away form continued.
They have not won on the road since 4 November and are without a clean sheet in 13 games.
Harry Arter was fortunate to escape with a caution for an awful challenge on Ryan Colclough in a bad-tempered game, while Bournemouth's performance was summed up when Benik Afobe lost control of the ball with just the keeper to beat.
Afobe could have had a hat-trick yet remains without a goal since 24 October.
At full-time, Bournemouth's players applauded their travelling fans who made the 500-mile round trip.
But by then, many had already started the long journey home.
Man of the match - Ryan Colclough (Wigan)
What's next?
Wigan will look to go further clear at the top of League One when they travel to Plymouth on Saturday (15:00 GMT). Just how many Bournemouth players on show at the DW Stadium will feature at West Ham on the same day (15:00) remains to be seen.
- Published17 January 2018
- Published12 January 2018