We've Got Pep's Man City – What A Result!

WIGAN keeper Christian Walton was delighted to pluck Manchester City out of the FA Cup hat – but not for the reason you might expect.

- Chris Dunlavy

A member of the side that dumped West Ham out of the competition last weekend, Walton is at the DW on a season-long loan from Brighton and isn’t permitted to play against the Seagulls.

So, happy as he is about taking on the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne in Round 5, all the 22-year-old really cared about was avoiding his parent club.

“The draw was horrible – really nerve-wracking,” revealed Walton, whose clean sheet against the Hammers was his tenth in 14 games for the League One leaders.

“The fixtures kept coming and coming. By the time Brighton came out of the hat there were only three teams left – us, Coventry and Man City.

“I saw Brighton at home and thought ‘Oh no, here we go. I’m not playing in the next round’. So, to end up home to Man City is unbelievable. It’s probably the game I’d have chosen at the start.”

Strangely, Walton has already faced the City player he admires most. England keeper Joe Hart is on loan at West Ham and played in last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat.