Saturday 23rd January 2010
The Premier League
Notts County 2-2 Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez did decide to tinker with his squad for this FA Cup fourth round game. As expected he rested Chris Kirkland and he also decided not to risk Mario Melchiot who is recovering from a broken nose sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers the previous weekend. This meant a debut for Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic and a rare start for Spanish right back Antonio Amaya.

In addition Gary Caldwell was rested, replaced by Emmerson Boyce, whilst Charles N’Zogbia was also excused duty. Hendry Thomas was suspended and this meant starts for both Jordi Gomez and Scott Sinclair and Jason Scotland also found himself back in the starting eleven.

Whether or not so many changes disjointed the team, there was no excuse for the manner in which the visitors performed during the first 45 minutes was nothing short of shocking. Any neutral watching this game would have been astounded had they been told that the team in black and white stripes been the lower placed outfit.

It was certainly no surprise when Lee Hughes opened the scoring in the 26th minute. With four minutes remaining until the break Titus Bramble had a panic attack, pulling the shirt of Hughes and referee Mark Clattenburg had no hesitation in awarding a free kick. Ben Davies duly dispatched a near perfect kick past a bemused Stojkovic who was rapidly learning what the English FA Cup is all about.

Martinez surprisingly made only one change for the second half and it was the hapless Amaya who made way for debutant Steve Gohouri who only arrived at the DW Stadium a few weeks ago. Whatever Martinez had told his charges during the break had an almost immediate effect when Jason Scotland drove the ball past Kasper Schmeichel following a nice ‘one two’ that split the hosts defence.

The early goal was just what the visitors needed but despite the almost constant pressure Latics had to wait until the 83rd minute when substitute Ben Watson scored via a header from a corner kick.

The hosts were the team that finished the stronger and thoughts of a revenue raising replay for the Magpies were far from their minds as they were in the ascendancy for the closing minutes of the game but when the referee blew for full time that is what they were going to get. Somewhat surprisingly Latics team mates Hugo Rodallega and Charles N’Zogbia had to be pulled apart after almost coming blows. What the hell was that all about?

Roberto Martinez played against Notts County in the last ever FA Cup game at Springfield Park and he was a relieved man when he did not become the first manager and player to lose in the FA Cup against the Magpies!

NOTTS COUNTY, Kasper Schmeichel, Graeme Lee, John Thompson, Jamie Clapham, Steve Hunt, Neal Bishop, Ricky Ravenhill, (Luke Rodgers 67), Johnnie Jackson, Ben Davies, Craig Westcarr, (Karl Hawley 84), Lee Hughes. Subs not used, Russell Hoult, Mike Edwards, Matt Hamshaw, Ben Fairclough, Ade Akinbiyi

Goal scorer, Lee Hughes 25 mins, Ben Davies 41 mins
Booked, Johnnie Jackson 39 mins, Craig Westcarr 43 mins, Lee Hughes 51 mins

WIGAN ATHLETIC, Vladimir Stojkovic, Antonio Amaya, (Steve Gohouri 46), Emmerson Boyce, Titus Bramble, Maynor Figieroa, Jordi Gomez, (Ben Watson 70), Scott Sinclair, (Charles N’Zogbia 70), Mohamed Diame, James McCarthy, Jason Scotland, Hugo Rodallega. Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Cary Caldwell, Tomasz Cywka, Callum McManaman

Goal scorers, Jason Scotland 52 mins, Ben Watson 83 mins
Booked, Titus Bramble 39 mins, Maynor Figueroa 64 mins

Referee, Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear)
Attendance, 9,073