Match Report
Wigan Athletic (0) 1-2 (1) Fulham
F.A. Cup Fourth Round 24-25 at The Brick Community Stadium
Saturday 8th February 2025 KO: 15:00pm
Referee:
David Webb (Lancashire)
|
Fulham secured progression in the Emirates FA Cup with a 2-1 win away at League One side Wigan.
The Whites had looked comfortable at half-time, with Rodrigo Muniz’s goal putting them a goal to the good, but Jonny Smith levelled for the Latics.
A second strike from Muniz helped avoid an upset, as we stood firm to seal our place in the Fifth Round.
The Whites started fast as Muniz attempted an overhead kick when he got to Andreas Pereira’s corner delivery first, but the effort was miscued.
Josh King then set his sights on goal, drilling a strike from distance that goalkeeper Sam Tickle had to get behind.
Fulham continued on the front foot, with Martial Godo ploughing forward on his former stomping ground and finding King, who played in Timothy Castagne before Wigan cleared away.
The deadlock was broken when Ryan Sessegnon whipped in a low cross from the left, which was met by Muniz who guided his header home.
It could have been two when Godo was set free and beat his defender for pace, but the young winger fired into the side netting.
| Match Stats |
Wigan Athletic |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
1 () |
|
| Scorers |
J Smith 50 |
Muniz 23 |
|
- |
Muniz 55 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
10 |
15 |
| On target |
5 |
5 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
33% |
| Possession |
31% |
69% |
| Passes Success |
78% |
89% |
| Corners |
7 |
7 |
| Tackles Success |
68% |
50% |
| Saves |
4 |
3 |
| Fouls |
11 |
7 |
| Offsides |
2 |
0 |
| Yellows |
2 |
0 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Another Andreas corner caused problems for the hosts; this time it was Issa Diop who rose highest, but his header was batted away by Tickle and his follow-up was wayward.
Despite Fulham’s dominance, the hosts equalised after the break with just their second shot of the game, Smith curling one into the top corner from 25 yards.
But the Whites were soon back in front, with Muniz latching onto a delightful ball over the top from Andreas and touching past Tickle to restore the lead.
There was no let-up as Godo had a strike deflected behind, while Latics captain Jason Kerr nodded a corner wide at the other end.
Wigan sub Ronan Darcy won the ball outside the box and tried to replicate Smith’s effort, but his shot went harmlessly wide.
There was more defending to do when Diop deflected a cross over for a corner, and Benda then did superbly well to keep out a Scott Smith effort following a scramble in the box.
Our keeper was in action again when Owen Dale tried to catch him out, but the backtracking Benda pushed the ball wide.
With six minutes added, Benda made yet another save before Darcy bundled home the rebound, but the offside flag halted the home side’s celebrations.
And despite the late rally from Wigan, Marco Silva’s men remained resolute to see out the victory.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
"Great competition between him [Muniz] and Raul [Jimenez]. It is always good to have two strikers scoring important goals for us.
"When you have a chance to start, you have to step in. And he did it. I made 10 changes and it is not easy.
"I am really pleased for the second goal, we have been working with him and it is something he needs to improve, this type of run and moves. You cannot always play with back to goal.
"The first [goal] is Muniz. He is capable inside the box. Great response and great competition for me to decide the best solution."
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Sibbick, Carragher, Kerr, Robinson (McHugh 75), Adeeko (Darcy 61), S Smith, J Smith (McManaman 70), Weir, Asamoah (Dale 61), Taylor (Goodwin 71)<
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Unused substitutes: Aimson, Sessegnon, Watson, Robinson
Goals:
J Smith 50 ( left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Babajide Adeeko)
Yellow Card: Robinson (7,f), McHugh (78f)
Fulham : Benda, Castagne, Diop, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Cairney (Berge 85), Reed, King (Smith Rowe 86), Pereira (Traore 75), Godo (Iwobi 75), Muniz (Vinicius 90)
Unused substitutes: Leno, Andersen, Jimenez, Willian,
Goals:
Muniz 23 (with an attempt from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Sessegnon with a cross.)
Muniz 55 ( right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andreas Pereira with a through ball.)
Referee:
David Webb (Lancashire)
Attendance: 12,281
Fulham are next in action at 15.00 on Saturday February 15th at home to Nottingham Forest