Match Report: Huddersfield 1-4 Wigan Athletic

A very strong team faced Huddersfield at the John Smith Stadium, Roberto Martinez wanting to see the full benefits of an extended cup run. That meant that Paul Scharner, Maynor Figueroa, Roger Espinoza and James McArthur all started from the game against Chelsea.

What it meant to the game? Well Wigan in the end walked away comfortable winners thanks to one man who shone very brightly for the whole game. Callum McManaman is a player who has been on the verge of breaking into the first team at Wigan for about the past year. Martinez has done is magic and is slowly bringing the young forward more and more into the first team.

A goal and an assist at the weekend helped his cause even more as he looks to gain a full starting place. Callum was the man to break the deadlock on 31 minutes. The winger was set free down the left handside thanks to a lovely curled pass into his feet from James McArthur. Callum had only one mind and that was to head to goal, ducking and diving his way into the box before turning and putting a Huddersfield defender on his bum. Callum then blasted the ball home.

1-0 and Wigan were comfortable, Huddersfield weren't pushing us hard enough and they had paid the price. Before half time our lead would be doubled as Arouna Kone scored his first goal of 2013. The striker make his first apperance since going to South Africa with the Ivory Coast.

Callum again at the center of things driving to the byline before pulling the ball back to Jordi Gomez. The midfielder went to hit the ball home, before being blocked. Luckily the ball fell our way and to the feet of Kone who slotted it home. Replays do show that Kone had strayed slightly offside, lady luck was favoring us today.

So at half time we were 2-0 up, comfortable on the ball and everyone was having a good game. Fraser Fyvive and James McArthur in the midfielder were marshaling it well. While Roman Golobart was heading, tackling and winning every ball.

The second half carried on in the same vein, and James McArthur would add Wigan's third. The Scotland international playing a one-two with Gomez to open up some space for himself, before unleashing a devastating strike into the Huddersfield top corner. There was no stopping that one, as it sailed into the goal, and tied the game up for Wigan.

Calm, perhaps too calm once we went 3-0 up. That would cost us a clean sheet, as Huddersfield would rally to get a goal in the game. Lee Norvak the scored from a lovely cross from winger Woods. The striker was found with acres of space in the middle of the box and powered the ball home. Was there going to be an upset?

It looked like it could be, as spurred on with the home support Huddersfield rallied and started to press high in the Latics half. Keeping the ball and trying to work the opening against our back three, this time they were prepared and looked to get the ball out and into the Huddersfield half as quick as they could.

James Vaughan could have made it interesting had he made good connection to a cross 70 minutes in. The former Everton striker was unable to turn the ball goal-wards.

The clock continued to tick down, and in the last minutes of normal time, Kone grabbed his second. He ran onto a heavy touch from Gerrard. The Ivorian ran into the box, before smashing the ball into the goal leaving the keeper no chance to make a save.

4-1 wrapped the game up and sent Wigan home happy.