By Daily Sports on January 30, 2017

Manchester United eased into the FA Cup fifth round with a 4-0 win over Championship side Wigan at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Marouane Fellaini's header broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, and Chris Smalling doubled their advantage after the break from Anthony Martial's cross.

The French striker provided his second assist of the game for United's third goal, teeing up Henrikh Mkhitaryan to tap home from close range.

And Bastian Schweinsteiger netted his first Old Trafford goal in the closing stages, turning past Jakob Haugaard with an acrobatic volley.

Martial, who was challenged to produce a performance by manager Jose Mourinho after he was left out of United's previous two matches, also had a goal disallowed in a lively display.

The FA Cup holders will discover the identity of their fifth-round opponents when the draw is made on Monday evening.

Mourinho made nine changes from their EFL Cup semi-final against Hull City, recalling Luke Shaw for the first time since November 30.

Wigan boss Warren Joyce, who spent eight years working with United's reserve team before joining the Latics, kept faith with the team that beat Brentford last weekend and his side looked bright in the early stages.

They forced the first chance of the game when Callum Connolly stung the palms of Sergio Romero, while Max Power did likewise from 30 yards.

But their Premier League opponents hit their stride as half-time approached - Mkhitaryan miscuing wide from close range - before Fellaini opened the scoring.

He overpowered Connolly to head home at the far post from Schweinsteiger's deep cross.

Wigan almost levelled after the interval when Romero failed to clear a teasing low delivery, but the United goalkeeper recovered to block David Perkins' effort with his legs.

And the Championship side were made to pay for that missed opportunity as Smalling rose above Stephen Warnock to head in United's second.

With Wigan's resistance broken, Mourinho handed second-half debuts to goalkeeper Joel Castro Pereira and teenage defender Axel Tuanzebe.

And the hosts put the match beyond their lower-league opponents with a rapid counter-attack on 74 minutes.

Martial raced clear and presented Mkhitaryan with a tap-in from three yards, with the Armenian on hand to cap another impressive display.

Schweinsteiger grabbed United's fourth with nine minutes to go, capitalising on Ander Herrera's knock-down to hook into the net.

Mourinho had dropped Martial from the squads that faced Stoke and Hull but the former Monaco striker responded with an energetic attacking performance and almost found his way onto the scoresheet in the final minutes.

His fine volley was correctly ruled out by referee Neil Swarbrick for a high foot by Schweinsteiger in the build-up.

It left the Frenchman disappointed but he may have done enough to force his way back into Premier League contention, with United set to face Hull at home on Tuesday. (skysports.com)

•Photo shows Marouane Fellaini celebrating Man Utd opening goal against Wigan

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 30, 2017

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