Promotion Remains Top Priority For Wigan Athletic Despite FA Cup Exploits

Promotion Remains Top Priority For Wigan Athletic Despite FA Cup Exploits
14:55, 18 Jan 2018

Paul Cook’s Wigan revolution took an almighty scalp on Wednesday night as his side dumped out Premier League outfit Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round replay at the DW Stadium. Goals by Sam Morsy, Dan Burn and Callum Elder secured a fine win for the Tics.

The job was nearly done 11 days earlier when Wigan took a two-goal lead in the first game between the two sides at the Vitality stadium. However, Bournemouth’s Lys Mousset pulled one back before Steve Cook popped up with a 92nd minute equaliser and rescued a replay for the Cherries. This time however they could find no way back after Sam Morsy fired Wigan ahead inside nine minutes. Will Grigg flicked a near-post cross on goal which was saved by Arthur Boruc, however Morsy was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made eight changes from the side that beat Arsenal on the weekend and despite the starting line-up having 91 Premier League appearances between them, his side never looked up for the challenge. Wigan’s lead was doubled in the 73rd minute when defender Dan Burn, who had just come on as a substitute, netted instinctively via the crossbar. The tie was put to bed three minutes later when Max Power’s cross was met back post by left-back Callum Elder who sent his header back across goal and into the far corner.

Wigan fans will be dreaming of history repeating itself as it was Bournemouth who Wigan defeated on course to their famous FA Cup win in 2013. Manager Paul Cook acknowledged the same but was quick to play down any runaway excitement. He said after the 3-0 victory: “I love that one, me! I think it has been mentioned but I think there’s a gulf in class between teams now.

"If West Ham [Wigan’s fourth-round opponents] were to turn up with all their first-team players, we’re not stupid, we know the type of game we would be in for but we’re delighted to win’’. He continued by stating “It’s a fantastic game, West Ham are a big club with massive support. I’m sure they’ll travel here in large numbers. For us, it’s a good diversion from the league but nothing can detract from our main objective which is trying to be promoted this season.’’

Promotion remains top of the agenda for Wigan and rightfully so. Paul Cook’s side are sitting pretty at the top of League One and are three points clear of second-placed Shrewsbury Town. You have to go way back to November 18, 2017 for the last time the Tics tasted defeat, a 1-2 home defeat to Bradford. Since then it's 13 league and cup games unbeaten. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Wednesday’s 3-0 win against Bournemouth was there 18th clean sheet this season. They have conceded the fewest goals in League One - just 12 all season - while they can boast the title of the League’s entertainers, scoring an impressive 50 goals so far this year. Only Manchester City, Liverpool and Luton Town have scored more goals in all of England’s top four divisions.

Cook led Portsmouth to promotion via the League Two title last season, three years after he won the title with Chesterfield. He has never managed higher than League One level, but his ability to get the best from his sides, on top of his exciting brand of football has sparked interest from some bigger clubs, with him being linked to the Sunderland job in November and the vacant Nottingham Forest post earlier this month. Cook elected to stay put, much to the benefit of Wigan.

It seems a matter of fact that he will lead Wigan to automatic promotion to the Championship this season and with him just being six months into a three-year contract at the DW stadium, you wouldn’t rule out Cook leading Wigan back to Premier League in the coming seasons, as long as they manage to keep hold of their impressive Liverpudlian manager.   

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.