Premier League side Wigan Athletic avoided an FA Cup upset away at Huddersfield Town of the Championship thanks to a 4-1 victory at the John Smith's Stadium this afternoon.
Roberto Martinez's side dominated the first half and went into the break with a 2-0 advantage.
Callum McManaman opened the scoring with 31 minutes played when he beat Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies from a narrow angle to the left of the target.
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The young winger then went on to claim an assist five minutes before half-time when he sent over a low cross which was eventually converted by Ivorian Arouna Kone in the centre of the goal.
Huddersfield provided a greater attacking threat after the restart, but they were unable to prevent James McArthur from putting Wigan three goals to the good in the 56th minute. Jordi Gomez picked out the Scottish midfielder, who drilled a shot beyond Smithies from the edge of the area.
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The home side managed to reduce the deficit shortly after the hour mark as Lee Novak planted a header into the net following a cross from the left by Calum Woods.
Novak's intervention failed to spark a comeback from Huddersfield though and when James Vaughan headed Jack Hunt's cross wide of the target 15 minutes from time, their last chance had gone.
Wigan made sure of the outcome one minute from time when Kone found himself with time and space inside the home team's area and he sent the ball into the roof of Smithies's net.
The result means Wigan will take their place in the quarter-finals of the competition for only the second time in the club's history.
Liam Apicella
