Wigan 2 Hull 0

Wigan made four changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Millwall at teh weekend. Gary Walsh took John filan's place in goal, due to the Aussie's finger injury.

Lee McCulloch was pushed up front, while Andy Liddell dropped to right wing. Teale was on the bench and Kennedy was playing on the left flank.

Jason Jarrett replaced Tony Dinning in the middle of midfield alongside the impressive Jimmy Bullard.

At the back, Ian Breckin came in for the injured captain Jason de Vos.

McCulloch: First goal of the season

The first chance of the evening fell to the Latics with Hull's Stuart Green striking a fine shot at his own keeper, forcing poor Fettis to tip the ball wide, thus giving a free-kick away, just six yards from his goal.

McCulloch was the only Latics player to react, trying to take a quick free-kick. However eventually when the kick was taken, Hull were wise and Bullard's shot was charged down easily.

McCulloch however was rewarded for his efforts and got the Latics' first goal of this season with a fine goal after 7 minutes. Liddell played the ball the McCulloch who took a step inside from Richard Hinds on the right wing and fired low into the bottom corner. A well taken goal by all accounts.

He was then in the thick of the action jsut minutes later when a well worked move resulted in Bullard playing the ball into Roberts who laid McCulloch on with a exquisit back heel. From ten yards he blasted over the bar when a cooler finish was required.

The first period was gonig very well with the Latics dominating the opening 20 minutes.

Around 25 minutes in and Ian Breckin almost got his first goal in Latics colours when his header flashed onto the post after a fine Peter Kennedy free-kick.

However as half time approached it was the visitors who looked livelier and Wigan were lucky to go in at the break on level terms. After 38 minutes a Green corner was directed goalwards by the impressive Allsopp, only for his shot to be blocked by 'team-mate' Burgess. Gary Walsh in goal was not going to get to that one.

Second Half

Both sides started the second half brightly with Lee McCulloch who was really impressing in his new strikers role hitting the bar from an Andy Liddell centre. From the resulting corner Ian Breckin again hit the woodwork.

Shortly after this and Latics turned from the dominant side to the dominated. A switch in mentality put the Latics on the back foot and they seemed happy to defend until the finial whistle. Content with attacking on the break.

First chances fell to Burgess from a Price corner, but Eaden reacted quicker and headed out for a corner. Price then had a cross blocked off the line by Wigan captain Matt Jackson, before Stuart Green tucked the ball past Gary Walsh, a perfect goal to the eye, only for a dubious offside decision from the linesman.

Jarrett: Finished Hull Off

With time running out, and Hull City tireing, Paul Jewell sent on Mitchell for Kennedy and with just three minutes left on the clock Jason Jarrett popped up at the back post to place a Neil Roberts cross into the roof of the net, thus seasling wigan's place in the second round.

A crowd of 3,295 witnessed the game, with a suprisingly large following from Hull.

Of course there will be positives to take into the game on Saturday, but remember this was a game against a Third divsion side. The attacking was nice and the passing at times was wonderful, but would it have come off against quicker defenders in the First, only time will tell.

It was nice to see Notts County take Preston to penalties too before knocking them out the competition. A full strength Preston side had to play 120 minutes of football which will have tested those legs. Many of which will no doubt be feeling the effects come half past four on Saturday.

Jewell said...

"I thought in the first half we were exceptional. I thought the passing and movement at times was expectional.

"Tonight was a good game as Hull have come here on the back of a good victory and would have fancied their chances of coming here. I thought we were by far the better side.