The record books will show that the First Division side swept aside their lower leagues counterparts in routine fashion, a 2-0 scoreline demonstrating that they did just enough to move forward to the next round. But those in attendance at the sparsely populated JJB Stadium last night will know different, because for a 15 minute period just after half time City ripped into their lofty opponents in cavalier and thrilling fashion, carving their defence - especially the left side - to shreds and going perilously close to equalising an early goal that the Tigers took 30 or so playing minutes to recover from. In the end the flying sparks of creativity that City's play generated were dowsed by a refereeing decision just about as crass and ill-judged as you could wish to see. Neat interplay between Stuart Elliott and Ben Burgess on halfway resulted in Big Ben rolling a delicious through ball into the path of the onrushing Stuart Green. The pace and guile of the move befuddled the dazed Wigan defence and Green raced into yards of space one-on-one with comedy netminder Gary Walsh. Green slipped the ball neatly past his glove-bearing foe for a well deserved equaliser, only to reel away in abject disappointment as play was pulled back for a non-existent offside. Let's be clear about this, this wasn't a borderline decision, when Burgess played the ball Green was no less than four yards ON-side, others estimated it to be more like 8 or 10. As Green received the ball he was level, but with Green going goalwards and Wigan's defence pushing up he was instantly and totally in the clear. That the linesman then raised his flag to chalk off this rapier thrust was no less than an absolute disgrace. Taylor's condemnation of the officials in this morning's press was subdued when compared to the scale of felony perpetrated by the lunatics that had taken over the Wigan asylum for the evening.

Ready to pick up from where they left off at 4:45 on Saturday, and sporting only one change as Whittle deputised for the injured Joseph, City lined up:

Fettis
Thelwell Whittle Hinds Delaney
Price Ashbee Green Elliott
Burgess Allsopp

Wigan carded their first choice eleven, only the injured Ellington was a notable absentee, although inspection of the programme suggests that the teamsheet was governed less by respect for the Tigers and more by the paucity of their squad depth. Nevertheless the home side looked fit and ready for action as they played fast flowing and skilful football from the first whistle. The powerful McCulloch up front was partnered by ex-Tiger loanee Neil Roberts, who looked strong, pacey and willing - characteristics that he understated considerably during his month in black and amber at the fag end of Little's time in charge. Both were the beneficiaries of Wigan's desire to whip early crosses into the heart of the City defence. Early chances carved by Wigan were evaded although the greatest threat to City's castle was self-inflicted, as an overhit and misdirected Green backpass veered towards the bottom corner of Fettis's goal, drawing an excellent sprawling save from the lugubrious Ulsterman. The indirect Wigan free kick four yards out for a handled backpass was scant reward for such fine save, although a drawn out set piece routine failed to test the keeper again. With that threat assuaged the Tigers looked to play in their opponents half when - BANG! A tinglingly fast incision down our left saw Delaney floundering and McCulloch cutting inside to smack a low shot across Fettis into the far rigging of the goal. 1-0 from nothing, excellent play by the Lancastrians.

This rocked City's composure considerably and Wigan continued to threaten our goal with their forest-fire style of play, swarming over our defence in packs of 5 and 6. Roberts controlled a throw in and backheeled the ball to McCulloch in space who shot wastefully high, then Delaney was caught napping by a rangy crossfield ball and Liddell's early whipped cross just evaded the stretching Jarrett, who along with ex-Hammer Bullard patrolled the Wigan midfield with considerable skill and guile. Hinds shoved McCulloch needlessly near the corner of the penalty box and the free-kick was whipped fiercely by Kennedy onto Jackson's bonce, only for the ball to rebound clear off the far post as Fettis stood rooted.

City's attacks were the merest crumbs from the lavish Latic table - Allsopp found space on the left as he latched onto a Delaney pass, but his cross was blocked for a corner. Then Price found space on the right - a brief precursor to much of the second half - and his low cross evaded the tardy Allsopp. Moments later City won a corner and Green's scuffed cross was steered goalwards by the now less-tardy-more- twisting Allsopp, only for Burgess to accidentally block in the six yard box.

But as the half neared its end so City took an upper hand. Ashbee was immense, none more so than when he saw the pacy Liddell released down the inside right channel and thundered up behind him at full tilt. The sight of the rampaging Ashbee in his peripheral vision encouraged Liddell to avoid the inevitable crunching tackle and play a hasty 40 yard lob that lacked power and direction and plopped into Fettis's arms. In the closing minutes there were two good Tigery chances. The first saw the ball ricochet around the Wigan box in crazy fashion, but neither Allsopp, Elliott nor Price could apply the necessary finish. Then superb skills by Price on the right carved out a crossing opportunity and Allsopp looped a long header onto the Wigan crossbar.

After such a promising end to the half City fans hoped for more of the same in the second stanza. This appeared unlikely as in the first five minutes McCulloch headed against the City crossbar, Whittle cleared from a yard out as Kennedy lunged to prod home the dropping ball, Jackson thumped another meaty header against the same spot on the crossbar from the resulting corner then Jarrett headed over wastefully from six yards after more good work on the right by Liddell and Eaden. But this City side is made of stern stuff, and the prompting of Green - who played a series of fabulous cross-field balls to Price and dictated the play totally for a spell - saw City take a grip on the game. The threat to Wigan's goal was clear although they defended stoutly and resisted several of Price's crosses. The best chance came when Ashbee hassled the ball away from Bullard and released Price who won a corner, from which Elliott headed millimetres wide. Then Green had his goal chalked off by the flag-waving excuse for a linesman. And that was largely that.

Wigan had now taken their foot off the gas and decided to slow the game down, and as City withdrew the threatening Elliott and Price for the benign Melton and Keates, so our threat was quelled. Wigan had further chances as Roberts headed narrowly wide at the far post under pressure from Thelwell and McCulloch skied another two presentable shooting opportunities. In the end a second goal came when the ball was lost cheaply in midfield and Liddell - who had the beating of Delaney throughout the game - turned in a dangerous cross that Whittle failed to clear and fell to Jarrett at the back post who prodded into an empty goal.