Rob Hulse recalled to the side at the expense of Richard Cresswell in Leeds’s only change to the 11 that started at Plymouth earned The Whites a well deserved draw and a trip back to ours for a replay on the 17th January where the visitors might witness a decent crowd.


The home fans that did turn up saw their team take the field with 8 changes to the team that lost to relegation chasing Birmingham last Monday probably with more than half an eye on their Carling Cup semi final next week.
The Whites made the brighter start and Jonathan Douglas had chances early on with Wigan keeper John Filan saving bravely at his feet on one occasion though neither keeper was seriously tested in the first half.

The premiership side made the breakthrough almost immediately after the break when Connolly turned in Lee McCullochs cross on 47 – 1-0 Wigan.

Follow up:

Wigan had probably their best period of the match after this as first Damien Francis went narrowly wide and then Killa scrambled a Wigan corner off the line.

United got going again but left it until the final quarter before they started to create more chances, Lewis crossed to almost put Blake in as he had at Plymouth and Liam Miller shot over from the edge of the area.
Connolly shot wide for Wigan with about 10 to go but just when they thought they had done enough some shoddy defending let Hulse in to smash home from about 5 yards and put our ball in the bowl for the 4th round draw.

On balance a replay was no more than we deserved and after 2 poor displays against the same opposition last season the match gave a good indication of how far we have come since the end of last season.


Next up Brighton by when I understand we will have been bolstered by the arrival of Joel Griffiths a midfielder who plays for Neu – somebody in Switzerland, all we need then is cover at centre back and Steve Stone to get fit.