Hit and miss United do just enough to get past Latics to stay in cup hunt

'BELIEVE' was affixed to the exterior of Wigan Athletic's stadium and they played 'I'm A Believer' before kick-off. Emulating their FA Cup exploits against the other Manchester club always seemed unbelievable.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Sir Dave Brailsford has been in attendance for a diverse trio of fixtures involving the Reds and this one will have been music to his ears. It was soundtracked to a rendition of 'We're the famous Man United and we're going to Wemberley! United are going to Newport or Eastleigh in Round Four.

Not every evening will be as rudimentary as this one but the fixture quirk of three games in January and an uplifting away day offer respite ahead of the vital visit of Tottenham on Sunday. United owed their travelling followers a performance in a season where they have witnessed seven defeats on the road.

The Boston Stand housed 7,334 Reds supporters and they went through their repertoire of FA Cup-related anthems long before Diogo Dalot nonchalantly put United ahead. The last time the Reds ended January with no silverware to play for was in 1987 and they seem certain not to repeat that.

Wigan ended a run of 10 successive home domestic cup draws for United and they will head to a League Two or non-league ground at the end of this month. A similarly strong side can be expected in what will be United's first fixture in a fortnight.

United's followers revelled in the privilege of a large allocation at a happy hunting ground, one of only three away venues where they were presented with the Premier League trophy. Wigan manager Shaun Maloney, responsible for inflicting the only defeat on United by the Latics, never came close to recording a unique player-manager double.