Wigan win FA Cup for first time in their 81 year history

FA CUP FINAL LIVE: Manchester City v Wigan - the action from Wembley as it happened




7.22pm: Wigan lift the FA Cup for the first time in their 81-year history! You just can't beat this competition, can you? Brilliant. What a day for the club and the town - providing they're not all watching rugby league (I jest!). Now, can they do 'the double' and secure Premier League survival? That mission has two installments left, starting at Arsenal on Tuesday.


Can they hold on to Martinez? And can they hold on to McManaman? These are issues for another day.

But what about Mancini? That is surely an issue very much for the here and now. His future looks bleak this evening.

Stay tuned to Sportsmail for all the reaction to today's incredible upset - and Mancini's future.

Thanks for joining us!

7.05pm: Martinez kisses and hugs his players, that man is destined for a big job. And Callum McManaman is destined for a big club too, what a game he's had - man of the match by a mile.


We've done it! Emmerson Boyce (left) and Gary Caldwell (right) lift the FA Cup at Wembley


Martinez says: 'It's an incredible moment. We were down at half-time because you need to take your chances and we thought we might have wasted out opportunity. But this group of players never stopped fighting.'

And yet, Wigan could still be relegated from the Premier League this season. Indeed, they are likely to be. How do you explain that?

Sportsmail's Matt Lawton says on Twitter: 'Sensational. McManaman has to be in next England squad.'

I couldn't agree more.

And here's Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter: 'Wow Man City shocked by Wigan. FA Cups always produce some amazing matches. Well done Wigan.'

Rio Ferdinand has his say: 'Wow! The romance of the FA Cup is still alive! Great for Wigan that.'


FULL TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 0 WIGAN 1


It's all over! Incredible! The first major trophy in their history! Dave Whelan goes mad in the stands, what a moment!


91 mins: Three minutes of injury time! Three minutes for glory! Robles booked for time wasting. Wigan on the brink! Mancini on the brink!


90 mins: GOAL!!!! MANCHESTER CITY 0 WIGAN 1

They've only gone and done it! Watson flicks on at the near post after Maloney's corner and the ball sails inside the far post! Wigan are on the verge of the biggest FA Cup Final shock since Wimbledon beat Liverpool in 1988!



Wat a moment: Ben Watson (second left) heads the winning goal past Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart 





89 mins: Penalty! Again McManaman goes down! Again Marriner says no!


87 mins: Scramble in the City penalty area after Watson's free-kick hammers into the wall. Maloney works half a yard but Kompany again blocks. The big Belgian has had yet another magnificent game (unlike most of his team-mates). Do they want Mancini to stay? They've got a funny way of showing it if so...


86 mins: Barry in the book now. Maloney darts past the midfielder and is brought down for his troubles. The Scot will have another go at the free-kick though.


83 mins: Zabaleta is SENT OFF! Again McManaman is the one who tears City apart, and the Argentine can have no complaints as he launches himself at the winger and brings him down with a scything tackle. That's a certain yellow card, and his second of the game - both for fouls on McManaman. City look in big trouble here. Maloney hits the free-kick but it's well wide.


80 mins: Martinez makes his first change: Ben Watson on to shore up the midfield, Gomez off.


78 mins: City lurking dangerously, probing at the edge of the box, Rodwell pulling the strings again. Yaya lets fly but his shot deflects away for a corner.


77 mins: Today's attendance is 86,245. That's a couple of thousand short of usual figures.


75 mins: Off the crossbar! Maloney hits the free-kick - was it a cross or a shot? - and the ball lands on top of Hart's bar from an acute angle and bounces away.


74 mins: McManaman is running the show! Now he breezes past Nastasic and into the box, and is cynically brought down. Yellow card. Chance now.


73 mins: Rodwell has galvanised City - and he rises highest to head at goal from Silva's free-kick. Robles saves with ease.


71 mins: Terrific first contribution from Rodwell, spinning away from the Wigan midfield and putting Silva into space down the left. Clichy, who has been somewhere between lacklustre and awful today, floats a tame cross to the back post, which is cleared.


Airborne: City captain Vincent Kompany beats goalkeeper Joel Robles to head at goal

68 mins: Tevez, whose limited contributions have had a touch of class and far exceeded the output of Aguero, is replaced by Jack Rodwell, and he doesn't look happy about it.


65 mins: McManaman denied again! Oh, what a player he is turning into... twisting past Clichy and Silva as if they weren't there. But Kompany throws himself at the ball to deny the young winger from Huyton just as he pulls the trigger. A certain goal prevented by City's magnificent captain.


63 mins: Neat interplay from Wigan but they can't find space in City's penalty area, and Gomez is forced to hammer a hopeful shot from distance, which clears the bar.


60 mins: First booking of the final goes to Zabaleta after he brings down the flying McManaman.


57 mins: City scream for a penalty! No says Marriner! Quite right too. Lovely dummy from Tevez helps release Silva, who flicks into Aguero's path. Sharner blocks his path and the striker goes down in a heap. But Aguero was never going to reach the pass and was always looking for the penalty. No chance.


56 mins: McArthy tries to run past Yaya - good luck with that! No surprises who wins that little race...


53 mins: Tevez goes for the spectacular, but his overhead kick misses the ball, let alone the target.


And it's Mancini who blinks first, with James Milner brought on for the ineffectual/waste of space (delete depending on how cruel you're feeling) Nasri.


52 mins: According to ITV Sport's man on the touchline, Roberto Martinez has been urging his players to 'believe' they can win this. By the looks of the game so far, they know they can win it. McManaman, Espinoza and McCarthy the best players on the pitch so far.



Top stop: Carlos Tevez (left) attempts to shoot past Wigan goalkeeper Joel Robles


49 mins: Aguero! No! Take a bow, Emerson Boyce. Kone lost the ball allowing Tevez to run at the backline, and his low cross found the Argentine striker in space, five yards out. But his goal-bound glance is blocked by a despairing lunge from the veteran Wigan defender. That saved a certain goal.


47 mins: Nasri gets the chance to run at James McArthur, but his cross is woeful and flies over the crossbar. The Frenchman slaps the turf in frustration.


46 mins: And we're off again...


James McCarthy has the first crack at goal of the second half, but his drive from 25 yards flies low and miles wide.



These boots are made for... A detailed view of Sergio Aguero's eyecatching footwear


HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 0 WIGAN 0


A stat to chew over from OptaJoe on Twitter:

'13 of the last 17 all top-flight FA Cup finals have seen one or both sides fail to find the back of the net.'


If City go on to nick this by a single goal (and save Mancini's bacon), there will be huge focus on that penalty appeal from Espinoza. Opinion is split on whether it should have been awarded. But, having seen it for a third time, my opinion is that it SHOULD have been given. Zabaleta's challenge was awful and clearly put the left-back off balance. It really is only the flimsy way in which he goes to ground that ruins the appeal.


Here's Michael Owen on Twitter: 'I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no way Wigan are one of the 3 worst teams in The Premier League. #theleaguetableDOESlie!'


And so ends a fascinating first 45 minutes. Wigan have been by far the better team - dominating at times - but City arguably had the best chance. We're in for a treat in the second period. Time for some half-time oranges first.



Close call: Callum McManaman (second left) sees his shot saved by Joe Hart


43 mins: Still nothing from City, they look out of ideas in midfield. Nasri is utterly anonymous, Silva the only man threatening.


40 mins: Barry benefits from a ricochet and has room for a shot, but his right-footed curler is nowhere near powerful enough to beat Robles in such good form.


38 mins: Hats off to Wigan, they're dominating this match. That penalty shout from Espinoza was probably a good call from Marriner. Zabaleta's challenge was clumsy and nowhere near the ball - and he probably deserved to concede a penalty after he went off his feet and got nowhere near the ball. But the Honduran was clearly able to shake off the challenge and fell to ground too easily.


36 mins: Brilliant Wigan move, McManaman must score, no! But he must score again, no again! My goodness, what a let off for City! The 22-year-old Wigan winger bursts onto Jordi Gomez's superb through ball and gets a clear run at Hart, who saves with his feet, but McManaman gets a second chance and rounds the City keeper. He opens up the space to shoot at the empty net, but Kompany blocks!




What a save! Joel Robles makes an instinctive save with his left foot from Carlos Tevez

34 mins: Penalty, surely! No! Espinoza again scares the life out of City's shaky back four, finding space behind Zabaleta. He's brought down by Zabaleta after appearing to shake him off, but Andre Marriner says no! Huge moment that - need to see a replay but that looked a very good shout - although he was clearly looking for the spot-kick.


33 mins: I have to say there's big support out there for Wigan today. Darren Smith emails in: 'Come on Wigan cause an upset. Come on you Latics.'


31 mins: Here's Gary Lineker on Twitter:

'Wigan doing what Wigan do, playing decent football. Wigan doing what Wigan don't do, defending well...thus far.'


29 mins: City are warming up now. Tevez finds half a yard inside the box and goes for goal, but his powerful drive sails over.


28 mins: What a save! Robles has rescued Wigan here with a quite phenomenal stop. Finally we see something of Samir Nasri, whose neat interchange with Silva sees the ball fly across goal and reach the unmarked Carlos Tevez. His shot across goal looks destined for the net but Robles' outstretched leg somehow flicks the ball over the bar. Brilliant!


26 mins: McManaman again darts down the right and then right at the centre of City's defence. A fine back-tracking run and sliding tackle from Gareth Barry prevents him getting a shot away though.



No way past: Carlos Tevez hits an early free-kick into the Wigan wall


25 mins: Nice work in a tight spot from Yaya and Silva helps release Sergio Aguero on the right for City, but their attack breaks down with a whimper.


21 mins: That man Espinoza is right at the heart of it for City, and he releases Shaun Maloney into space on the edge of City's box. The Scotland winger has a pop from 25 yards but Joe Hart watches the ball fly a yard or so wide.


19 mins: McManaman again shows his skill on the ball as he glides past Gael Clichy with absolute ease. He's destined for big things, this lad. It must be said that Wigan look by far the most impressive team out there right now. City are dozing. We've hardly had a glimpse of Yaya yet.


17 mins: Kone looking dangerous now as he finds space on the right and cuts inside. His blast at goal is charged down.


14 mins: Wigan force a corner after more good work from Espinoza, and Paul Scharner rises highest to head at goal. But the ball sails over the crossbar.


13 mins: Things have quietened down a touch at Wembley, with both sides settling down into the match, sizing each other up. But Vincent Kompany is far from quiet, screaming at the officials and pleading for a throw-in after a well-timed tackle.


10 mins: Here's a cheeky tweet from West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster, who is clearly watching the game from home:

'wish ITV would've let the SKY commentators do this FA Cup final, they actually talk sense...well,, sometimes!'

Poor old ITV Sport do get a hammering. Quite rightly so in many cases!



 
Direct: Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, runs past Wigan's Jordi Gomez (left) and Emmerson Boyce

8 mins: What a chance! McManaman, who has scored in the fifth round, sixth round and semi-final, picks up a terrific through ball from Kone, before selling a dummy to Matija Nastasic and opening up the far corner with a half-turn inside. But with the goal gaping, the young winger can only sidefoot well wide. Should have been 1-0 Wigan. Will he live to regret that miss? They can't afford too many more...


6 mins: Better from Wigan, their first spell of possession and their fans roar approval as Callum McManaman twists and turns before releasing Roger Espinosa on the opposite flank. He cuts inside Zabaleta with ease but the attack breaks down after working its way back to McManaman.


3 mins: More City pressure, good save from Joel Robles! Silva again at the heart of things for City, and the Spaniard is felled on the edge of the penalty area. Carlos Tevez steps up to take the free-kick and hits it straight into the wall. But Yaya Toure volleys powerfully back at goal and Wigan's keeper dives to his left to palm away.


2 mins: Early pressure and an early sniff at goal for City. Pablo Zabaleta has a good claim to be their player of the year thanks to his dashing runs from defence, and the Argentine right-back here finds space on the flank. His cut back is dangerous and finds the onrushing David Silva, whose shot is blocked.


Kick-off!

5.15pm: The 2013 FA Cup Final is underway!


5.14pm: Wigan's team get in a huddle. We're ready to go...



Famous fan: Manchester City supporter Noel Gallagher (centre right) in the stands


5.12pm: A rather OTT operatic version of the national anthem fills the air at Wembley, only to be replaced by huge roars of 'Mancini' from City's fans. Should City lose today there will be huge doubt over the Italian's future at the club - who are courting Manuel Pellegrini - but the supporters are sending their message to the club's hierarchy.


5.10pm: A good luck message from Taiye Paul in Nigeria. Guess who he wants to win?

'Go for goals Wigan, You deserve to be in the final, so make us proud. With this lineup of Wigan, I think Martinez boys are capable of lifting the trophy. Wigan would surely shine today, heart warmed prayers.'


5.05pm: Right, time for the teams to meet and greet the dignitaries now. Leading them is FA chairman David Bernstein... a lifelong Manchester City fan, no less!


5.00pm: The band are marching off, we're just 15 minutes from kick-off and the teams' arrivals are imminent. First of all, another nod to a wonderful tradition - it's time for the FA Cup hymn, Abide With Me.



Show of support: Manchester City fans wear Roberto Mancini masks at Wembley


4.55pm: New Wembley really is a wonderful stadium - OK it may not have the overwhelming sense of history that the Empire Stadium once had, and the arch can probably never match the twin towers for symbolism, but it's a hugely impressive arena. If you've not yet had the pleasure of watching your team play there, I can tell you that it's simply enormous. And the stands are awash with colour, a sea of sky blue flags swirling and fluttering in the City end. What a sight.


4.51pm: Arouna Kone is getting a bit of a working over by Wigan's physio Alex Cribley out on the pitch at Wembley - worrying signs for the Latics' star striker or just a routine pre-match massage?


4.45pm: Wigan in the Cup Final, can you believe it? I'm not sure many of the Latics' fans can, to be honest. But what a day for them. As a fellow supporter of a historically small club, I think it's brilliant that Wigan are in this year's showpiece.


But can they actually win the thing? City's all-star £160million line-up says they can't, and it would be the biggest Wembley shock since Lawrie Sanchez, Dave Beasant and all that (sorry for the reminder, Liverpool fans) in 1988. But stranger things have happened. Like Wigan beating title-chasing Manchester United last season...



Go bananas: Manchester City fans enjoy the atmosphere prior to the FA Cup Final at Wembley



     


Flying the flag: Wigan Athletic fans show their support ahead of kick-off at Wembley

4.40pm: Right, rant over... I'm sure you've been following Nick Metcalfe's excellent build-up, but if you haven't already seen them, here are today's teams:


Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Silva, Toure, Barry, Nasri, Aguero Tevez.

Wigan: Joel; Espinoza, Scharner, Alcarez, Boyce; McCarthy, McArthur, Gomez; McManaman, Kone, Maloney.


4.35pm: Before we go any further, I've got to get this out of my system. What on earth are the FA playing at holding the FA Cup final at 5.15pm when the season still has weeks left to run? The FA Cup is about nothing if not tradition - it's not just any old cup competition, it's THE cup competition - so let's keep it that way!


4.30pm: Good afternoon one and all! The season may still be in (not quite) full swing but it's FA Cup Final day! Is there a finer day in English football? Don't be silly...




Fight for silverware: Manchester City and Wigan clash in the FA Cup final

Source: Daily Mail