Man Utd player ratings v Wigan: Two score 8/10 & three earn 7/10 in FA Cup win - gallery

Manchester United recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Monday night to set up a meeting against either Eastleigh or Newport County in the next round of the FA Cup.

It was a game, at the DW Stadium, which United dominated and scored via goals from Portugal duo Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes.

The final third-round tie of the elongated weekend was preceded by a booming DJ set and fireworks as the players entered the field. The home fans were up for this and sensed an upset was on the cards. Those hopes only increased when Andre Onana was forced into a full-length sprawl after just three minutes to keep out Thelo Aasgaard’s close-range effort.

But after a slow start United grew into game, under the watchful eyes of Ineos’ Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc. Marcus Rashford tested Wigan stopper Sam Tickle with a low, driven shot after 14 minutes before Scott McTominay steered an attempt wide after driving into the box

It wasn’t long until United’s good play was rewarded, with Dalot curling the ball into the bottom corner, after Rashford fed the United full-back the ball at the edge of the area. That somewhat sedated the raucous atmosphere, while United’s 7,500 strong away following in the East Stand gloated.

It was so nearly 2-0 a few minutes later after Tickle fumbled Rashford’s shot and it kissed the post, before the Wigan goalkeeper gratefully pounced upon the ball. Rasmus Hojlund was one of two changes to the starting line-up - along with Scott McTominay - and the Dane spurned three great opportunities to double United’s advantage midway through the first half, with a shot saved by Tickle’s foot, a header clipping the bar, while he couldn’t react quick enough to the ball bouncing back into the box after Rashford’s shot was saved.

Wigan’s approach was admirable, with Sean Maloney’s side setting up in a fluid 4-4-2, but United found it too easy to find gaps and dominate possession, Alejandro Garnacho was also a real threat menace down the right, and in the latter stages of the half cut inside and rifled a left-footed strike off the bar.

United should have been out of sight by half-time but were profligate in front of goal, with Scott McTominay missing the final chance of a positive first half when he failed to connect with Bruno Fernandes’ cross into the back post.

Wigan tweaked their shape at the interval which reduced the number of chances afforded to the visitors, but Kobbie Mainoo still tested Tickle on the hour mark with a low shot, before McTominay failed to hit the target from a bouncing ball.

As the second period went on Wigan’s hopes of a comeback grew, spurred by some tentative forays into the opposition half, but Fernandes killed off those aspirations when he netted from the spot in the 74th minute. It was the Portugal international who earned the penalty in controversial circumstances as he went down in the box under the slightest of contacts from Liam Shaw, and referee Anthony Taylor, lacking the assistance of VAR, judged it to be a foul.

From there, with the tie determined, there was little to report, although Tickle was twice called into action to deny Garnacho and then Rashford, before Fernandes fired wide. At the other end Aasgaard’s strike from distance flashed just off target.

But it was a quiet end to a game which will have pleased Erik ten Hag. Here’s how we rated the United players…