Aasgaard shines as Latics progress in the FA Cup – Mansfield Town 0 Wigan Athletic 2 (FA Cup 3rd Round)

Today at 02:00 AM

• Thelo Aasgaard scored a brace as Wigan Athletic progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory against Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium.
• Mansfield had marginally the better of the first half with Matthew Craig and Stephen McLaughlin going close and Jonny Smith hitting a post for Latics.
• Latics went ahead early in the second half when Aasgaard headed home from the centre of the box from Jonny Smith's cross.
• The visitors doubled their lead on 54 minutes when Aasgaard found the top corner of the Mansfield net with a wonder strike from 20 yards.
• The hosts applied late pressure but Latics held out and now have a home tie in the fourth round against Premier League Fulham.

Shaun Maloney has made one change from the home defeat to Birmingham City with Luke Robinson replacing the injured Steven Sessegnon.

The hosts pressed high from the kick off and Latics struggled to make much headway in the opening 15 minutes of the game.

The hosts had three half chances in the opening half hour with Hiram Boateng and Matthew Craig firing straight at Sam Tickle and Stephen McLaughlin testing Tickle with a low strike.

Probably the best chance of the half fell to Jonny Smith who was played in by a long goal kick, cut inside and his effort grazed the outside of the post.

Maloney's men gradually started to gain a foothold and enjoyed more possession as the half progressed.

Latics were quickly out of the traps in the second half and went ahead on 48 minutes as Jonny Smith's cross from the right found Aasgaard free inside the box and he headed home from seven yards out.

It was 2-0 just six minutes later when Aasgaard produced a strike of the highest quality. He picked the ball up deep, drove forward and curled a wonderful strike into top corner from just outside the box.

The visitors should have been three up on 58 minutes as Michael Olakigbe crossed for Dale Taylor, but the striker’s low effort was saved by Christy Pym.

Latics had to contend with late Mansfield pressure and a succession of corners but they held out to progress to the fourth round and home tie against Premier League Fulham.

Overview 

After a difficult first half in which Mansfield pressed high Latics gradually got into their stride and Aasgaard's quality shone through.

The highly rated midfielder had one of his best games in a Latics shirt scoring two goals of the highest quality. The first a powerful header from eight years out and the second an unstoppable strike from 20 yards.

Latics had been defensively strong but it was Aasgaard's quality that proved to be the difference between the two sides. The young Norwegian Under 21 International is Latics leading goal scorer with 11 goals including three in the FA Cup. 

The big worry now for the club is that this performance will have aroused further interest from Championship clubs and he could be in high demand in the transfer window.

Latics will not want to lose one of their best players at this stage of the season, but unfortunately money talks in football and if the right fee is agreed he will leave.

Post match comments

Afterwards Maloney was full of praise for his players for their professional performance.

"The full team in the second half was brilliant," he told the media.

"Individually, Thelo's talent came to the fore tonight, and he has been doing that all season. 

"Thelo took the game away from Mansfield, but in fairness, in the first half our back four kept us in it. 

"Mansfield were more dominant in the first 20 minutes, but in the second half, we improved in everything. What Thelo did tonight was special.

"Mansfield have some good players and we weren't quite at it in the first half. The players were brilliant in the second half, even when we had to defend deeper at times. It’s been a really good night.”

350 supporters made the midweek trip to the One Call Stadium, and Maloney expressed his delight to have sent the travelling Tics home happy.

"Our away support is brilliant. They are extremely supportive and have got me through some dark moments. 

"It was not easy to come tonight, but they got to see two amazing goals. We're back in the Fourth Round – and it's brilliant for the Club.”