ERIK'S CUP OF CHEER

Huge relief for underfire boss as Dalot strike & Fernandes penalty sends Reds into fourth round

- ANDY DUNN

IF Erik ten Hag was feeling the heat even in the bitter Wigan chill - you could not tell.

Under a woollen, rather than tin, hat, the Manchester United boss stood impassively for most of a one-sided tie.

Even when Diogo Dalot opened the scoring with a curling strike just after the 20-minute mark, Ten Hag's expression barely changed.

But make no mistake, he knew the importance of this win. Anything other than victory at the DW Stadium would have turned critical scrutiny into ridicule - and that is normally beginning of the end.

Some 34 years ago, United went into a FA Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest under immense pressure with suggestions defeat would mean the end of the road for the boss.

Thanks to a Mark Robins goal, United won and a certain Alex Ferguson remained in his post.

The rest is glorious history that is proving to be a millstone around the neck of followed every coach who has in his footsteps.