Manchester City and Wigan Athletic will face off in the FA Cup at Wembley this morning for the last piece of silverware on offer for the English domestic season. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 2.15am AEST.
After what can only be described as an underwhelming season, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has had to deal with speculation surrounding his job in the lead-up to this game, with Manuel Pellegrini reported to have already reach an agreement with the club.
City also have a host of first-team regulars, including Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Gareth Barry, nearing the end of their contracts and today’s game could be their opportunity to sign off their spells at City with silverware.
Despite being substituted at half time against Swansea last weekend Yaya Toure has been passed fit and is expected to start, while Mancini has confirmed that Romanian goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon will start in goal after featuring throughout City’s Cup run.
For Wigan this game could hardly have come at a worse time, with the club needing two wins from their last two English Premier League fixtures to have any hope of avoiding relegation.
Roberto Martinez has a host of injury concerns, with Antolin Alcaraz and Jean Beausejour both doubtful to start in the final, while several other regulars have already had their seasons ended.
Not that it will matter for the Latics this afternoon, who will be aiming to lift their first major trophy in their history.
When the two sides met in the EPL this season City were victorious on both occasions, winning 2-0 at the DW Stadium before an 83rd minute Tevez winner saw them take the three points at Etihad Stadium.
On paper this should the blue half of Manchester should at least partially take the focus away from Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement with their sixth FA Cup win.
But this is a Cup final and strange things can happen. They haven’t displayed it much lately but Wigan can play some attractive football at times and City aren’t exactly playing brilliantly themselves.
Can they do it? Find out from 2.15am AEST as we cover the action with live scores and commentary.
Colin N
Guest
Premiership teams that beat Macc Town tend to do quite well in the FA Cup. Chelsea beat them in the 3rd round in 2007 and won the Cup, Everton beat them in 2009 and got to the final and Wigan beat them in 2013 and of course won the Cup. Sorry....just had to big-up our part in helping them lift the trophy - we gave them their toughest test too!
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Morning Bondy. Huge upset. Big question is will Martinez stay with Wigan and decamp to Merseyside? Surely Callum McManaman, the man of the match for Wigan, will be on the transfer list for several big clubs. Very talented player.
John Davidson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Man City 0 Wigan 1 Congratulations to Wigan, they really worked their socks off and deserved this win. Amazing that the FA Cup winners could still go down this season and be relegated from the Premier League. City never really got out of first gear. They created a few chances but not enough. Looked a little tired and slow in their build-up play.
Bondy
Guest
Morning John, Amazing what a header, well deserved win. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3uipTO-4A).
Football United
Roar Pro
YESSSSS WELL IN Wigan!! Magical stuff
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'94 City have the ball, they pump it in again but that's it, it's all over. WIGAN WIN THE FA CUP! Biggest upset since Wimbledon and the Crazy Gang? Man City 0 Wigan 1
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'93 Joel is yellow-carded for wasting time. City having a final push. A long throw-in comes in but the ball is eventually cleared. Man City 0 Wigan 1
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'92 Dzeko is on for City, not sure who is off. Man City 0 Wigan 1
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'91 What a time for Ben Watson to score. Great header. Three minutes of injury-time left. Can Wigan hold on?? Man City 0 Wigan 1
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'89 Wigan trying to turn some screws. MxManaman with another great run, he goes down as he and Clichy struggle for the ball. Wigan want a penalty but none is given. 50-50 call. The corner comes in and Watson HEADS IT HOME! GOAL FOR WIGAN! Man City 0 Wigan 1
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'87 Barry commits a foul right in front of the City goal. Another free kick for Wigan in a good spot. This time the ball is driven straight into the wall. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'85 Can Wigan make the most of their extra man? Their free kick is hit by Maloney, who is wide to the right of the goal. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'83 This game is really in the balance. Clichy's cross is deflected. City try again. Wigan break and McManaman is brought down by Zabaleta. Who is already on a yellow. And he gets another one, so that's a red and that's City down to 10 men. Was the right call. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'81 Ben Watson coming on for Jordi Gomez in Wigan's midfield. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'79 Toure tries a shot and City have another corner. But Joel gathers it well. Espinoza makes a break, passes to McManaman, but the ball is knocked out by City. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'77 You can see one goal winning this one. Pretty tight. And you think the longer it goes on the more likely Wigan might sneak a goal Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'75 Wigan now with a spout of good pressure on the City goal. McManaman getting some good balls in. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'73 Milner is fouled and City have a free kick in a good spot. Minler drives in it and Rodwell gets a good header goal-ward bound but Joel takes it well. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'71 Aguero is pinged for knocking over McArthur. Barry punts a long ball out. Wigan still hanging in there. Man City 0 Wigan 0
John Davidson
Roar Guru
'69 Tevez off, Rodwell on. Toure to be pushed up front and Rodwell to partner Barry in central midfield. Man City 0 Wigan 0