‘Believe’ was affixed to the exterior of Wigan Athletic’s stadium and they played ‘I’m A Believer’ before kick-off. Emulating their FA Cup exploits against the other Manchester club always seemed unbelievable.
Sir Dave Brailsford has been in attendance for a diverse trio of fixtures involving United and this one will have been music to his ears. It was soundtracked to a rendition of ‘We’re the famous Man United and we’re going to Wemberley’. United are going to Newport or Eastleigh in round four.
Not every evening will be as rudimentary as this one but the fixture quirk of three games in January and an uplifting away day offer respite ahead of the vital visit of Tottenham on Sunday. United owed their travelling followers a performance in a season where they have witnessed seven defeats on the road.
The Boston Stand housed 7,334 United supporters and they went through their repertoire of FA Cup-related anthems long before Diogo Dalot nonchalantly put United ahead. The last time United ended January with no silverware to play for was in 1987 and they seem certain not to repeat that.
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Wigan ended a run of 10 successive home domestic cup draws for United and they will head to a League Two or non-league ground at the end of this month. A similarly strong side can be expected in what will be United’s first fixture in a fortnight.
United’s followers revelled in the privilege of a large allocation at a happy hunting ground, one of only three away venues where they were presented with the Premier League trophy. Wigan manager Shaun Maloney, responsible for inflicting the only defeat on United by the Latics, never came close to recording a unique player-manager double.
Wigan have been pummeled 5-0 twice and 4-0 six times by United and they had the chances to rack up a cricket score in the rugby town. Too often, the ball did not go between the posts and Tottenham are unlikely to be as forgiving.
United had one previously strolled to victory once all season and Crystal Palace hit the eject button themselves in the League Cup. Three of their 13 victories have now been by more than one goal.
The FA Cup offers deliverance for Erik ten Hag and the intent was evident in his team selection. The two changes were enforced, though that would be kind on the absent Antony, destined to be on the bench had he travelled.
Insulated by a snug woolly hat, Ten Hag was a relaxed observer in the technical area in contrast to his vexed presence over the Christmas period. There was applause for Marcus Rashford’s intent and Alejandro Garnacho’s work rate.
There were some inexplicably tetchy groans from the United supporters at Rashford’s prudence on the ball, perhaps anxious at the narrow scoreline. United’s advantage was never in jeopardy, though, and with only two more matches this month their aim has to be to start the new year with a 100% record.
Brailsford, accompanied by another Ineos representative about to sit on the United board in Jean-Claude Blanc, is continuing to attend meetings to “gauge the performance challenge” at United. The only challenge United braved at Wigan was the January chill.
Dalot’s 22nd-minute curer was a more difficult chance than the umpteen United squandered. They fired 17 attempts at Sam Tickle’s goal and hit the woodwork three times. Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund were particularly profligate. Thelo Aasgaard’s tame one-on-one with Andre Onana in the second minute was Wigan’s one-shot.
Hojlund and McTominay remain United’s joint-top scorers on six goals. United are unlikely to address their striker strife until the summer when a goalscorer of the proven variety remains essential. It was typical of United this season that their only goal in the first half came from a defender.
Even amid the nine internationals with World Cup, Champions League, Europa League and European Championship finali experience in the United XI, Kobbie Mainoo was a class apart again. His sudden seniority is so striking he held his own during a demonstrative discussion with the ever-voluble Bruno Fernandes.
Referee Anthony Taylor had to order Fernandes to quell his complaints in the first half. The message got through and when Aaron Wan-Bissaka needlessly overhit a pass intended for Fernandes, the United captain offered a diplomatic thumbs up.
Fernandes later irked the Wiganers by winning the contest-killing penalty he converted. The DW Stadium had provided replays of previous incidents but sensibly avoided a potentially incendiary rerun.
Ten Hag summoned Mainoo for a conflab seconds after Dalot casually celebrated his opening goal. At a time when United supporters are weighing the pros and cons of the incumbent manager, the hot-housing of Mainoo and Garnacho reflect favourably on Ten Hag.
The United manager spent the best part of a minute offering Mainoo additional guidance during an engaging exchange. Three minutes later, Mainoo advanced to force Tickle into another stop.
With 11 senior players unavailable through injury and illness, United named a callow bench that included three without a competitive kick in football. Omari Forson cameoed to become the 249th academy graduate to debut for the United first team but Rhys Bennett and Joe Hugill were denied as Wigan kept the scoreline down.
That was unbelievable.
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