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Cardiff City logo
FA Cup | Fifth Round
Feb 15, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Wigan logo

1-2

Campbell (27')
FT(HT: 1-2)
McCann (18'), Watson (40')

Live Commentary: Cardiff City 1-2 Wigan Athletic - as it happened

Sports Mole provides live text coverage of the fifth-round FA Cup tie between Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic.
2

Holders Wigan Athletic travelled to Cardiff City this afternoon with a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at stake for the victors.

As it was, Championship side Wigan took the lead through Chris McCann, but that was soon cancelled out by Cardiff striker Fraizer Campbell.

However, the winning goal arrived for Wigan just before the break when Ben Watson struck from distance.

You can find out how the match unfolded with Sports Mole's text updates below.


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Afternoon all. So, the Premier League has taken a back seat this weekend with the reappearance of the FA Cup. Here we will be covering the holders Wigan Athletic, who will be looking to overcome Cardiff City in the fifth round.

Before we get into some pre-match chat, the team news from the Cardiff City Stadium is starting to filter through. Let's take a look at the home side first...

Actually, scrap that because the Cardiff team is not yet with us. However, the Wigan lineup is out so let's take a look at that...

WIGAN XI: Al Habsi; Perch, Boyce, Ramis, Beausejour; Watson, McCann, Espinoza, Gomez, McManaman; Fortune

WIGAN SUBS: Nicholls, Crainey, Holgersson, Barnett, Rogne, McEachran, McClean

Wigan boss Uwe Rosler is without Manchester United loanee Nick Powell and James McArthur, but Spanish defender Ivan Ramis came through a reserve match during the week and has been deemed fit enough to start. Elsewhere, there is no Nicky Maynard under the terms of the loan agreement that took the striker from Cardiff to Wigan.

And now the Cardiff starting lineup has been released. Here it is...

CARDIFF XI: Marshall; Taylor, Caulker, Cala, Theophile-Catherine; Medel, Eikrem, Daehli, Berget, Zaha; Campbell

CARDIFF SUBS: Lewis, Turner, John, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Kim, Noone

It's January signings galore from a Cardiff point of view, as Wilfried Zaha, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Mats Moller Daehli, Jo Inge Berget and Juan Cala all start for the Bluebirds. There is also a role up front for Fraizer Campbell, while the likes of Gary Medel and Steven Caulker are both included in midfield and defence respectively.

Right, to the match. Twelve months is a long time in football - just ask these two clubs. This time last year Wigan were a Premier League side, while Cardiff were attempting to join the Latics there. The Welsh outfit kept up their part of the bargain by winning the Championship, but Wigan (perhaps partially distracted by their exploits in the FA Cup) were relegated.

These teams also have in common the fact that they have relatively new managers at the helm. Cardiff's Solskjaer replaced Malky Mackay in late December following a public bust-up with owner Vincent Tan. As for Wigan, they appointed Uwe Rosler to take charge during the same month following the sacking of Owen Coyle.

Of course, Rosler started his managerial career at Brentford. However, he perhaps wouldn't have got that job had it not been for his opposite number today, who talked him up to Bees owner Matthew Benham.

"Matthew was the man behind the NextGen youth competition and wanted to have a team from Norway in the competition," Rosler told reporters earlier this week. "They asked Ole Gunnar if Molde would be interested and during those conversations and meetings, my name got mentioned to the owner for the Brentford job.

"Matthew confirmed to me that he asked Ole Gunnar 'do you know a manager?' Ole Gunnar said 'why not try him?' That is how I got my interview and I would not have got my interview if Ole Gunnar had not put the word in."


Something else that brings the two together is the fact that Solskjaer actually replaced Rosler as the boss of Norwegian side Molde in January 2011. Rosler, though, has insisted that he does hold any grudges.

"When I went there, I wanted to prove a point by going out on a high in Norway. I was just very happy to achieve my goals in such a manner before I went on a new journey in England. When Ole Gunnar got confirmed, I just wished him well. He's a huge name in Norway and a talented manager who proved that with the league titles he won there," he said.


As for Solskjaer, he could well look at what Wigan did in the FA Cup last season and worry if his team enjoy similar success. The Latics may have lifted the famous trophy, but it came at a cost as they were relegated to the Championship. Glory over the Premier League money, that's the choice that clubs have to make at the bottom. When asked which he would prefer to do by reporters, a defiant Solskjaer replied: "I would like to win the cup and stay up."

So, would a Wigan win actually be an upset today? It's hard to say really. Yes hosting Cardiff are in the Premier League, but the visitors are ninth in the Championship and in terms of the English ladder, just 10 places separate the two sides. With that in mind, perhaps a victory for Rosler's men wouldn't be a major surprise.

Indeed, recent history favours Wigan, who are undefeated from their last 10 meetings with Cardiff. In total, the Latics have won nine of the 22 matches between the two teams, while Cardiff have won four. What's more, this is the first time that they've played against each other in the FA Cup.

PREDICTION: With just under 10 minutes to go until we get started, let's have a stab at guessing the outcome of this tie. Cardiff have a lot of new faces in their side today and while that could potentially be exciting, it may also have a negative effect on the performance. Meanwhile, Wigan are a bit more settled, so let's go for a 1-1 draw, with a replay back at the DW Stadium.

Both sets of players are now starting to filter into the tunnel area at the Cardiff City Stadium. Not long until we get started.

Before proceedings get underway, 60-second applause will take place for the late Sir Tom Finney, who died last night at the age of 91.

KICKOFF! Referee Martin Atkinson blows his whistle for the first time and Wigan, attacking from right to left during the first half, get this tie started. A place in the quarter-final of the FA Cup awaits the winner.

Bright work from Cardiff's Zaha early on as he flicks the ball into the path of an advancing Kevin Theophile-Catherine. However, the full-back's low cross from just inside the area just evades Berget and Wigan are able to clear the danger.

CHANCE! First sight of goal for Wigan, but from their point of view it fell to the wrong player. Ben Watson assesses his options before playing the ball wide to James Perch. The defender moves forwards and into the home side's area, but with time and space he shoots well wide of the target.

Just as they did in the Premier League last season, Wigan look extremely comfortable with the ball on the ground. A neat move involving five players ends when a pass is overhit for Beausejour down the left flank, but nevertheless it's easy on the eye football from the visitors.

In terms of Cardiff, young Norwegian Daehli and Zaha have looked extremely confident in possession. Moments ago the latter of that duo went by three players, only to then have his route blocked when he was clearly obstructed by Ramis. However, referee Atkinson insisted that no contact was made and amazingly waved play on!

GOAL! CARDIFF 0-1 WIGAN (MCCANN)

Very, very good goal for Wigan, who have played some good football up until this point. Jordi Gomez gets to the left byline, before showing good awareness to drill the ball across the face of goal. Waiting there is Chris McCann, who keeps his cool to slot in from six yards out. As it stands, the holders are heading for the quarter-finals.

If you didn't know which of these two sides was the Premier League one, you'd think that Wigan were. They are playing some really good football, while Cardiff are struggling to gain a foothold in proceedings.

GOAL! CARDIFF 1-1 WIGAN (CAMPBELL)

And all of a sudden, slightly against the run of play, Cardiff are level. It starts with Daehli lofting the ball into the area for Zaha, but the winger is crowded out by Wigan shirts. The ball drops for Campbell 12 yards from goal, though, and the former Man United striker is able to lash a low shot beyond a static Ali Al Habsi. That's his third FA Cup goal of the season.

CHANCE! Daehli and Zaha are showing really positive signs of having a potent understanding today. The two Cardiff attackers exchange passes on the edge of the area, but the Norwegian is unable to keep his shot down and the ball flies over Al Habsi's crossbar.

The goal really has done wonders for Cardiff, who are now dominating this tie. Just a moment ago Berget was released down the left, but as he was about to pull the trigger, Emmerson Boyce got across to block the danger.

GOAL! CARDIFF 1-2 WIGAN (WATSON)

Watson scored the winning goal in last season's FA Cup final and he's buried a beauty here. Gomez rolls a free kick to him 30 yards from goal and the flame-haired midfielder goes for sheer power. He's helped by the Cardiff wall, which splits, but nothing should be taken away from the strike which is still picking up speed as it beats David Marshall on its way into the net.

There will be two minutes of stoppage at the end of the first half.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF 1-2 WIGAN

Moments before the whistle is blown Cala is denied a debut goal for Cardiff by Al Habsi from close range, meaning that Wigan take a 1-0 lead into the break.

From a Cardiff point of view, you'd have to say that bar the performances of Daehli and Zaha, it's been a bit disappointing. Those two have been lively, but their passing as a team has been lacklustre. Things need to improve after the break because if not their FA Cup run is over.

Wigan, on the other hand, have been impressive. They have played some good football at times and although they wobbled for a few minutes after the Cardiff goal, they've been the better of the two sides. With Cardiff having to push forward in search of an equaliser, there may very well be some gaps for Wigan to exploit during the second half.

The players are now heading back on to the pitch - we will soon be underway for the second half.

RESTART! Trailing Cardiff get the action back underway, with 45 minutes separating holders Wigan and a place in the last eight.

SUBSTITUTION: Incidentally, Solskjaer made a change to his team during the break. Medel has come off and Don Cowie has entered the action. Right now, it's not clear if that is because of an injury to the Chile international or merely a tactical alteration.

First opening for Cardiff and they probably should have made more of it. Eikrem's corner from the right is headed downwards by Cala, but no-one is alert and Al Habsi is able to come off his line to hold the ball. Then, up the other end, Marshall is almost caught out by a deep cross, but he atones for the error.

All of a sudden, the quality has been lost on this contest. Both teams are either overhitting their passes, or in Zaha's case, just doing too much. There is no doubt that the Man United loanee has a heap of talent, but he does have a tendency to over complicate things.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the tie for Wigan and it is goalscorer Watson that is departing the action. He is replaced by Josh McEachran, who is on loan with the Latics from Chelsea.

SUBSTITUTION: And now it's a second change for Cardiff, as Berget, who was largely quiet, exits the pitch. His place has been taken by winger Craig Noone.

SUBSTITUTION: There are more changes being made to personnel rather than action on the pitch at this present moment in time. It's Wigan on this occasion who call a halt to proceedings as they take off Callum McManaman and thrown on James McClean. Also, they've had the first booking as Beausejour gets his name taken for a trip on Daehli.

PENALTY APPEAL! Zaha wants a penalty, but Atkinson is having none of it. Replays show that having gone beyond Boyce he was pulled back by the Wigan skipper, but the contact was minimal and the Cardiff winger probably didn't help his cause by falling down so dramatically. Even so, he's not happy with the decision.

Despite having had much of the possession during the second, Cardiff haven't really worked Al Habsi in the Wigan goal. Time is running out, as well, so they must start turning the domination into chances, otherwise it will count for very little.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Final roll of the dice from Solskjaer as he brings off Eikrem and puts Korean midfielder Kim in his place. There is also a last change for Wigan, as the attack-minded Gomez is replaced by defender Stephen Crainey - a sign that Wigan are trying to shut up shop.

CHANCE! Daelhi has been Cardiff's best player today by a long way and he almost drew them level, but having weaved his way into the area, his shot deflected on to the roof of the net. Then, from the resultant corner, Al Habsi dives to his left to palm clear Zaha's low curling effort. At last some shots at goal from the home team.

The tie is now being played in and around the Wigan penalty area, but the visitors are holding firm as it stands. Not much longer left for them to hold out.

Wigan have four minutes of stoppage time to hold on at the Cardiff City Stadium.

PENALTY APPEAL! More shouts for a Cardiff penalty as Cala hits the deck under a challenge from Ramis, but once again Atkinson is not interested. Replays show that it was the correct decision from the referee and time is running out for the home side now.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 1-2 WIGAN

There goes the final whistle and it means that Wigan's love affair with the FA Cup continues. The holders have now gone 11 matches without defeat in the competition as they head into the quarter-finals.

As for Cardiff, who were jeered by some of their supporters at the end, they will now solely have Premier League survival to concentrate on.

That's all we have time for from the Cardiff City Stadium. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.

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