FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic survived an FA Cup scare relying on late goals and extra-time to see off spirited MK Dons 3-1 in their Third Round replay.
The hosts had the better of the match and led for majority of it thanks Luke Chadwick’s tenth-minute opener, before a Nick Powell brace and a Marc-Antoine Fortune clincher sealed their fate.
The two teams played out an entertaining 3-3 draw in their original meeting 10 days ago and as soon as the first half was under way it became apparent that another end-to-end encounter was in store.
MK Dons 1-3 Wigan Athletic (AET)
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Third Round Proper replay
Tuesday 14 January 2014
stadium mk
Winners receive £67,500 from FA Prize Fund
Both sides sit tenth in their respective divisions, but once the initial sparring ran its course, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was the home side that ply their trade a tier above their visitors.
Comfortably over six-foot and lightening quick, the lively Daniel Powell’s physical presence and pace tested Wigan right-back Leon Barnett, and Ben Reeves looked dangerous playing wide on the right.
After dominating the opening 10 minutes, the hosts got what their positive wing-play so richly deserved.
Right-back Lee Hodson found himself in space on the right and looped a dangerous cross into the path of the onrushing Chadwick.
The former Manchester United man – playing his first game in two months – timed his run to perfection and guided a controlled shot low to Al-Habsi’s right to put the hosts into a deserved lead.
Upon taking the lead, though, the League One side seemed to sit back. They allowed their much-fancied hosts the time on the ball they had denied them in the early exchanges.
Fraser Fyvie produced an outstanding save from Martin on 18 minutes, after neat link up play with Leon Barnett on the edge of the Dons box.
The stopper was equal to his effort and at full stretch tipped the Scotland Under-21 international’s curling shot wide of the post for a corner.
While at the other end, Al-Habsi made two spectacular saves in a matter of moments.
The Oman international first tipped Stephen Gleeson’s goal bound free-kick just wide of his right post, before again being alert to a sensational curling effort from the outside of the boot of Dons captain Dean Lewington.
As half-time approached and a combined total of 15 shots on target, it was remarkable that those braving the freezing conditions had only seen a single goal.
As the second half began, Wigan showed slightly more in the way of intent as the second period got under way.
However, as stars of the show in the first half, neither goalkeeper was called into action again until the game approached its 70th minute, as Al-Habsi tipped over a deflected cross for a corner.
By this stage MK Dons had replaced the tiring goalscorer Chadwick with Dean Bowditch.
MK Dons saw their lead scrubbed out
Uwe Rosler had made a double change – and it was to prove pivotal. The German replaced Fyvie and James Perch with Nick Powell and Emmerson Boyce on 60 minutes.
Powell and Boyce re-energised the visitors, with the former firing a couple of long range efforts just wide and the latter adding a more direct approach to Wigan’s play.
But neither could force the issue and trouble Martin in the MK Dons’ net. Indeed, it was Robinson’s side who came closest to doubling their lead before the game’s turning point.
After weathering what could best be described as a ‘mild storm’, Shaun Williams stuck a low shot from just outside the box, beating Al-Habsi low to his left, only to see his effort bounce back off trhe outside of the post and away for a goal kick.
With the hosts a lick of paint away from doubling their lead and surely securing their passage into the Fourth Round – MK Dons were reminded what a cruel game football can be.
As within moments The FA Cup holders were level through substitute Powell.
Fortune grabbed Wigan's third
Stephen Crainey picked out the England Under-21s international in space in the box, and the man on loan from Manchester United put the Latics level with eleven minutes remaining.
The final stages were significantly less eventful than the first, and the game drifted into extra-time.
However, within seconds of the restart Wigan had completed the turnaround – and it was Powell again.
The youngster beat the offside trap and latched on to a through ball and, as Martin came charging out, he confidently flicked the ball over the despairing keeper and it trickled in off the post.
Robinson immediately made his two remaining substitutions. He brought on George Baldock and Alan Smith in place of Daniel Powell and Samir Carruthers.
The changes failed to have the effect that those of his opposite number had, and the Latics soon extended their lead through Fortune just before the first period of extra-time drew to a close.
It was enough to silence the now near-frozen crowd, and send Uwe Rosler’s side through to a Fourth Round meeting with Crystal Palace.
Milton Keynes Dons
Martin, Lewington, Hodson, Williams, Gleeson, Potter, Chadwick (Bowditch, 58), Reeves, Powell (Baldock, 95), Carruthers (Smith, 95) Kay.
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Flanagan, McLeod, Galloway
Wigan Athletic
Al-Habsi, Crainey, McCann, Watson, McLean (Jordi Gomez, 72), McArthur, Espinoza, Fyvie (Powell, 60), Perch (Boyce, 60), Barnett, Fortune
Subs not used: Nicholls, Beausejour, Garcia, Redmond
Referee M Adcock
Attendance 8,316
