Wigan Athletic 2-1 Crystal Palace

The FA Cup holders Wigan had their Oman international goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi to thank for this victory that took Uwe Rosler’s Latics through to the fifth round of the competition. Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis named a surprisingly strong squad for the tie despite crucial Premier League matches on the horizon, but despite this they still fell to their Championship opponents.

The Eagles started the brighter with on-loan Stoke City striker Cameron Jerome attempting a curling right footed effort from the edge of the area, after fine build up play down the right between Jason Puncheon and Chamakh. Al-Habsi in the Wigan goal though came to the rescue with a fine stop to turn it round the post, and it wasn’t to be the first time today that the Latics number one would foil the Palace attack.

A short while later, again after neat work down the right from Chamakh, Stuart O’Keefe found himself with a similar chance to Jerome, only to miss-hit his shot straight at the keeper. Then came the sucker punch for the visitors, as the home side broke away down the left with James McClean who made it all the way to the by-line before pulling it back for the onrushing former Eagle Ben Watson to side foot home to give the home side a 1-0 lead going into the break.

Shortly after the restart Pulis’s men continued their onslaught on the Latics goal with Al-Habsi again being forced into a sublime double save. Firstly the Wigan stopper scooped out Barry Bannans direct corner, before acrobatically turning over Puncheon subsequent volley. It was from a similar corner however that Palace would level it up. Bannan’s whipped in near post delivery eluded two Palace players before finding its way to Aaron Wilbraham who prodded home, from all of four yards, for just his second ever goal for the South Londoners.

Palace continued to push for the winner as full time approached. Substitute Dwight Gayle broke after a Wigan corner and ran fully 70 yards only to be denied by another fine Al-Habsi save down low to his left. It was to be a crucial stop, as late on the home side scored what would turn out to be the winning goal. Roger Espinoza played in the dangerous McClean who this time cut inside palace full-back Mariappa and slotted a left footed shot past Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni to send Rosler’s men into the fifth round.

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