After defeating Vigan Athletic 2-0 on Monday in the FA Cup fourth round, Manchester United is set for a journey to non-league Eastleigh or League Two team Newport County.
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A spectacular effort from a distance by Diogo Dalot and a penalty by Bruno Fernandes – secured after a slight touch in the penalty area led to a controversial decision benefiting the Portuguese after VAR was not consulted – proved to be enough for the visitors, who also missed several opportunities.
Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes converted two out of Manchester United’s 33 shots, as Eric Ten Hag’s team secured victory over Vigan Athletic, advancing to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Playing their first FA Cup match in three years, Manchester United dominated completely at W.W. Stadium, and by halftime, they should have had a lead of four or five.
Meanwhile, the 2013 winners, Vigan, remained in controversy until Fernandes failed to score from a contentious opportunity in the 74th minute. Referee Anthony Taylor’s decision not to review the incident after the captain’s least challenging moments led to a defeat in the midst of several missed opportunities for the underdogs.
Manchester United may not be too concerned, as the previous season’s runner-up will face Newport County in the fourth round, where Tottenham Hotspur awaits the winners at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
Having secured their first real chance to tie the game against their league one opponents in the 22nd minute through Dalot, it was United who took the lead. Although Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnaćho struck the bar in the first half for Vigan, they only managed to score one goal to showcase their superiority.
Bruno Fernandes's penalty goal for Man United vs Wigan #EmiratesFACup #MUFC pic.twitter.com/oVaXNwPXgg
— United Football (@footballxtra90) January 8, 2024
United worked hard to end the game after the break, but ultimately, Fernandes’ penalty sealed the deal.
Speaking points – Premier League ‘habits’ have crept into United:
A strange match. United is in the fourth round, they avoided an upset, but on a night where they should have scored more, there seems to be little improvement in their confidence in front of goal. Especially for Hojlund, who, after the crucial success against Aston Villa, was wasteful in the first half with some chances less than a week apart. TNT Sports collaborator Maccoyist thought Hojlund should have performed better, while Roy Keane didn’t hold back.
“I’ll be fuming with him. The habits of losing opportunities and not being clinical have been learned from the Premier League. With your striker, you can say all day that you’re unlucky; they’re great opportunities, put the ball in the back of the net, stop messing around!” Keane said on ITV.
Keane is never one to mince his words, and while Hojlund wasn’t really ‘messing around,’ this match could be considered a missed opportunity to make some progress for Den.
Man of the match – Kobe Muno (Manchester United):
Marcus Rashford, Fernandes, and Garnaćho all looked sharp, and Kobe Muno also made an impact in midfield, giving the sense of a training match at times. On a caution, Muno gets approval for another calm and disciplined performance that belies his 18 years.
Player ratings:
Vigan:
Tikal 8, Seseignan 6, Cleer 6, Morrison 6, Hughes 6, Jones 6, Adeko 5, Shaw 5, Asgaard 7, Godo 7, Humphreys 6. Subs: Magnis 6, Smith 6, McManaman 6, Lang N/A.
Manchester United:
Onana 7, Dalot 7, Wan-Bissaka 7, Varane 7, Evans 6, Muno 8, McTominay 7, Fernandes 8, Rashford 7, Garnaćho 7, Hojlund 6. Subs: Kambwala N/A, Pellistri N/A, Hannibal N/A, Forson N/A.
Kobbie Mainoo vs Wigan Athletic 😮💨 🔥
— United & Everything Football (@ManUnitedBall) January 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/lTQzZNK0ca
Key moments of the match :
4′ Close! Big chance! Vigan breaks on the right, and a fantastic cross from Godo finds Asgaard, whose attempt is saved by Onana’s legs. A quick escape for United!
15′ Good save! Rashford’s clever play, cutting inside towards the near post before attempting a shot, is well blocked by the Vigan defense inside the penalty area. There’s a lot of power in it, but the tackle gets it away from United.
21′ Wide! Somehow!! Before McTominay clears it out, Fernandes plays a beautiful one-two with Dalot inside the box. He takes a touch and sometimes wobbles because of a slight deflection, keeping it just wide of the post!
22′ Goal! Vigan 0-1 Manchester United (Dalot): It was coming… United deserves this. Vigan can only clear a cross halfway, and in the end, Rashford plays it to Dalot on the edge of the box. The full-back takes a touch, opens his body up, and curls an effort into the far bottom corner.
31′ Off the bar! A big miss from Hojlund, who heads just wide of the bar from six yards out after a pinpoint cross from Garnaćho. Scoring seemed easy…
41′ Off the bar again! Garnaćho with a long-range attempt, which gets a slight deflection with only six yards to go! The goal seemed inevitable for United in this instance…
73′ Penalty to United! Referee Anthony Taylor takes a good second or two here… but when Shaw Fernandes appears to be slightly touched, he points to the spot. Then, there’s no VAR, so there’s no debate.
Rasmus Højlund After Man United Match giving his T-shirt to Worker what a beautiful Gesture by him
— Recap Football (@recap_football_) January 9, 2024
Manchester United vs Wigan !!!
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74′ Goal! Vigan 0-2 Manchester United (Fernandes penalty): Fernandes enjoys that – a massive roar. Vigan’s fans are pleased, United’s fans are pleased. The away team is now two goals ahead, and Fernandes places it to the other side after a tackle on the second leg.
