FA Cup
26 January, 2013
Macclesfield Town
Joe Ayon
40
Ryan Jackson
2
Thierry Gerard Audel
98
Nathaniel Brown
5
Craig Braham-Barrett
22
Kieran Murtagh
8
Jack Mackreth
7
Sam Wedgbury
17
John Paul Kissock
19
Matthew Barnes-Homer
9
Waide Fairhurst
20
Substitutes
Peter Winn
11
Dean McDonald
23
Amari Morgan-Smith
10
Carl Martin
31
Charlie Henry
18
Tony Diagne
14
Andrew Mills
13
Wigan Athletic
0
Joel
23
Ronnie Stam
31
Maynor Figueroa
25
Román Golobart
27
Jordan Mustoe
18
Roger Espinoza
20
Fraser Fyvie
29
Nouha Dicko
14
Jordi Gómez
15
Callum McManaman
11
Ángelo Henríquez
Substitutes
6
David Jones
24
Adrian Piscu
10
Shaun Maloney
26
Ali Al Habsi
16
James McArthur
28
Daniel Redmond
68
Eduard Campabadal
Referee: Roger East
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This FA Cup fourth round tie was pinpointed as one which could potentially bring an upset. Wigan Atheltic were in poor form and came to Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose - a stadium which is well-known for its questionable pitch - with a very inexperienced squad. However it was a very professional performance from the Latics who took an early lead when Callum McManaman was fouled by Thierry Audel inside the hosts' area. Jordi Gomez stepped up and found the back of the net. Audel himself had a golden chance to equalise but headed straight at debutant Joel Robles while Waide Fairhurst felt he had a good shout for a penalty when he was shoved by Roman Golobart but Macclesfield didn't create enough chances to give themselves a fighting hope of denying Wigan victory. Wigan advance into the last 16 of the competition but a gutsy Macclesfield can now focus on their Blue Square Premier campaign.
It's all over. Wigan Athletic go through to the next round of the FA Cup having narrowly beaten Macclesfield Town 1-0 at the Moss Rose.
Four added minutes will be played at the Moss Rose and Macclesfield are continuing to lay siege to this Wigan defence. Kieran Murtagh attempts a spectacular drive from 25 yards but it's nowhere near Joel Robles' goal. It sums up Macclesfield's day - great build-up play but the final touch just hasn't been there.
Macclesfield get another chance to put a good delivery into the box as Roger Espinoza gets booked for a hack on Sam Wedgbury. Wigan scramble the free-kick out for a corner as the siege continues. It's another disappointing delivery for the hosts though as Peter Winn picks out the first man.
Roger East dips into his pocket as Ryan Jackson catches Jordan Mustoe on the right flank in a tackle that is made more in desperation and frustration than anything else.
It was around this time that Macclesfield started their amazing comeback against Cardiff City in the last round of the FA Cup. Wigan are looking comfortable at the moment though and a similar turnaround looks unlikely, especially as long as the Latics manage to keep possession of the ball.
Dean McDonald goes for a spectacular volley from the edge of the Wigan area but it's highly ambitious and balloons out of the ground. The ball may actually drop in the Wigan area at some point this evening.
Time is running out for Macclesfield now and the dynamism in their play seems to be disappearing. Kieran Murtagh forces a corner kick for the home side though, giving them a chance to send the centre backs forward. The set piece comes to nothing though.
A second Macclesfield substitution sees Peter Winn replace John Paul Kissock down the Silkmen's left flank.
That is Waide Fairhurst's final contribution in this match as he makes way for Dean McDonald, who will go and play alongside Matthew Barnes-Homer.
The home side will keep going until the end here - in their third round win over Cardiff City, the Silkmen were 1-0 down until the 85th minute before two late goals saw them progress. They're looking for a repeat here as Waide Fairhurst turns on the edge of the Wigan penalty area before smashing the ball towards the top corner. Unfortunately for him, the strike is wildly off target.
Macclesfield are continuing to probe away at this Wigan defence but chances have been hard to come by in this second half. Star man Matthew Barnes-Homer has been kept extremely quiet by Roman Golobart and Maynor Figueroa.
Nouha Dicko is coming off for Wigan with Adrian Lopez taking his place. The volume has certainly increased a few levels at the Moss Rose in recent minutes - they feel that a shock is still on the cards here.
Nat Brown leans on Angelo Henriquez inside the Macclesfield area and the Chilean needs no second invitation to go down. Again, Roger East is unmoved though.
Craig Braham-Barrett goes into the book after blocking Nouha Dicko's cross with his hand, giving Wigan a free-kick of their own at the opposite end of the pitch. Maynor Figueroa lines up one of his blockbuster drives but it lacks the direction and fizzes along the floor and out for a goal kick.
Wigan's Maynor Figueroa takes a bad touch before taking down Waide Fairhurst on the edge of his own penalty box. Matthew Barnes-Homer hits it powerfully but Wigan scamper in to block his effort. The pressure is mounting on the visitors.
It's another massive chance for Macclesfield. Matthew Barnes-Homer has plenty of space down the left flank and can square the ball across goal for Kieran Murtagh, Murtagh takes a bad touch and has to swing his body around before pulling the trigger but by then Roger Espinoza has got back and can poke the ball clear. Roberto Martinez reacts to the incident and brings on David Jones for Fraser Fyvie, who looks to have picked up a knock.
Jordi Gomez's corner kick picks out the near-post run of Angelo Henriquez but he doesn't get enough contact on his glancing header and the ball runs out for a Macclesfield throw-in.
The home crowd erupts as Waide Fairhurst breaks into the penalty box but his left-footed shot is sliced a long way wide, to the frustration of his well-positioned team mates inside the area.
Nouha Dicko almost makes it a nightmare start to the half for Macclesfield. Nat Brown gives the ball away inside his own half, allowing Roger Espinoza to put Dicko one-on-one with Joe Anyon. Dicko gets forced wide though and his shot lacks direction, allowing Anyon to keep the ball out.
We're off again in Macclesfield. Neither team has chosen to make any alterations to the sides that started the game. Like they did against Cardiff in the third round, can Macclesfield come back from a goal behind to secure progression?
Wigan Athletic may go into the half-time interval ahead but Macclesfield Town have performed excellently this afternoon. The Silkmen have had a number of chances to get on the scoresheet themselves - most notably through Theirry Audel who could only direct his close-range header straight at the Latics' debutant goalkeeper Joel Robles. As it is though, the Premier League side do lead. Callum McManaman's jinking run was halted by Audel's stray leg inside the Macclesfield box in the seventh minute. Jordi Gomez's slotted away the spot kick to give Roberto Martinez's men the lead but this cup tie is far from over.
Referee Roger East calls time on an entertaining first half at the Moss Rose. Premier League Wigan lead non-league Macclesfield Town by a goal to nil thanks to Jordi Gomez's penalty.
Macclesfield have a huge shout for a penalty as Waide Fairhurst gets bundled over by Roman Golobart inside the Wigan area. Roger East waves play on and seconds later Thierry Audel should level the scores but his header, from six yards out, is straight at Joel Robles. It really should be 1-1.
Jordan Mustoe is the first man to go into the book for a late challenge on Jack Mackreth, giving Macclesfield a good attacking position in the process. Kieran Murtagh delivers the ball into the box and John Paul Kissock takes aim but a number of Wigan defenders throw themselves in the way of the ball.
Tenacious Macclesfield midfielder Sam Wedgbury decides to take aim from 30 yards but he gets under the ball and lifts it out of the stadium. Macclesfield are slowly growing into this match as it progresses.
The other dangerous winger on the pitch, Wigan's Callum McManaman, is in the thick of the action again and picks out Nouha Dicko inside the Macclesfield area. The quiet Dicko tries a first time shot but he misses the ball completely.
Jack Mackreth is seeing plenty of the ball now and is giving Jordan Mustoe some problems. He shakes off the Wigan left back and delivers a much better ball into the box this time. Matthew Barnes-Homer brings the ball down but his shot lacks power and Joel Robles can hold onto it without too much bother.
The quality of Macclesfield's final delivery is letting them down at the moment. Kieran Murtagh robs the ball off Roger Espinoza in midfield and feeds Jack Mackreth on the right flank but his cross is poor and bobbles into the path of Maynor Figueroa who hacks clear.
Callum McManaman is having a bright game and that continues when he goes close to doubling Wigan's lead. Joe Anyon flaps at a Ronnie Stam cross and his punch presents the ball to McManaman on the edge of the area. The winger cuts back inside and bends the ball towards the far corner but it shaves the post and goes wide.
A succession of Macclesfield free-kicks concludes after Matthew Barnes-Homer directs a poor delivery back into the Wigan area. John Paul Kissock gets his head on the ball and puts it just wide but the whistle has already been blown as the ball edged off the pitch before Barnes-Homer's touch.
Macclesfield goalkeeper Joe Anyon gets a back pass from Nathaniel Brown, forcing him to kick away. Angelo Henriquez closes him down quickly though and Anyon slips, kicking the ball against the Chilean striker. Luckily for the on-loan Shewsbury keeper, it ends up going out for a goal kick rather than rolling into the back of the net.
Wigan are taking the sting out of this game by keeping possession for lengthy periods. At the moment, Macclesfield are trying to press when their opponents have the ball but you'd expect the non-league side to tire as the match progresses.
That's a great chance for Macclesfield. Jordan Mustoe inexplicably gives the ball away to Matthew Barnes-Homer on the edge of the Wigan box but the Silkmen striker's pass towards John Paul Kissock is wayward and Roman Golobart gets back to scramble the ball clear.
Macclesfield have reacted well to going a goal behind. Kieran Murtagh wriggles free of Roger Espinoza in midfield before lashing at goal but his shot veers a long way wide of Joel Robles' left-hand post.
Jordi Gomez steps up to take the kick and places it to the right of debutant goalkeeper Joe Anyon. Anyon gets a hand to the ball but can't stop it nestling in the corner of the goal. It was a clumsy challenge from Thierry Audel and Macclesfield can have no complaints about going a goal behind.
It's in! Wigan lead! Jordi Gomez slots home.
It's a penalty to Wigan. Thierry Audel clips the heels of Callum McManaman and Wigan have the chance to go ahead.
Macclesfield's first attack almost ends positively as Matthew Barnes-Homer pushes into the Wigan half before attempting to play Waide Fairhurst in. There's too much power in the pass though and rather than take aim at goal, Fairhurst has to prevent the ball from going out for a goal kick instead.
Wigan Athletic have started confidently on this tricky looking Moss Rose pitch but, despite dominating possession, they have struggled to get into the hosts' half as yet.
Roger East gets this FA Cup fixture underway at the Moss Rose. Macclesfield Town are in their all-blue colours while Wigan wear their change kit of all-black. Can the Silkmen cause a shock?
Joel Robles, Ronnie Stam, Roman Golobart, Maynor Figueroa, Jordan Mustoe, Fraser Fyvie, Roger Espinoza, Jordi Gomez, Callum McManaman, Angelo Henriquez, Nouha Dicko. Bench: Ali Al-Habsi, David Jones, Shaun Maloney, James McArthur, Adrian Lopez, Daniel Redmond, Eduard Campabadal.
Joe Anyon, Ryan Jackson, Nathaniel Brown, Thierry Audel, Craig Braham-Barrett, Sam Wedgbury, Jack Mackreth, Kieran Murtagh, John Paul Kissock, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Wade Fairhurst. Bench: Andrew Mills, Tony Diagne, Carl Martin, Charlie Henry, Amari Morgan-Smith, Peter Winn, Dean McDonald.
Joel Robles makes his first start for Wigan Atheltic in what is an extremely inexperienced Latics line-up. There are also starting berths for Jordan Mustoe and Callum McManaman while loanee Angelo Henriquez partners the latter in attack. In all, Roberto Martinez has made eight changes to his team. Macclesfield will have to make do without defender Carl Martin who only makes the bench after his late fitness test but Matthew Barnes-Homer will be eager to add to his double against Cardiff City in the third round.
Roger East will have the task of refereeing this afternoon's game. The Wiltshire-born official, who took charge of his first Premier League match last year, has refereed just one match involving either of these teams this season - and Wigan will be hoping for a more positive outcome today than October's League Cup shock defeat to the Bantams.
Roberto Martinez has had a lengthy injury list of long-term absentees to contend with in recent weeks and that continues today. Ivan Ramis and Mike Pollitt have undergone operations this week and the former will be out for the rest of the season with his knee injury. Arouna Kone is on African Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast meaning Angelo Henriquez is likely to start up front. Elsewhere Ben Watson, Adrian Lopez, Albert Crusat and Ryo Miyaichi are all still missing while Antolin Alcaraz is yet to return to full training.
Macclesfield Town have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their big day after first choice goalkeeper Lance Cronin was ruled out with a broken thumb. Shrewsbury goalkeeper Joe Anyon has been drafted in on an emergency loan basis and will start between the sticks. Former Derby player Pablo Mills misses out through suspension and striker Stefan Payne is cup-tied. Defender Carl Martin faces a late test in order to prove his fitness.
Just a short sojourn down the M6 separates these two clubs in geographical terms but in the English football pyramid, the gap is much more pronounced. Wigan Athletic, currently 83 places above their opponents Macclesfield Town, will head to the Moss Rose this afternoon with slight trepidation. Two Matthew Barnes-Homer goals for the non-league Silkmen saw off Championship side Cardiff City in the last round and Wigan, still reeling from their League Cup exit at the hands of Bradford City, will be eager to avoid becoming the giant-killing victims again.