Pep Guardiola’s gamble backfires and Wigan complete unlikely FA Cup hat-trick | Paul Wilson


City’s manager fails to learn from Tottenham’s experience at Rochdale and his weakened team paid a hefty price

Manchester City had already done their bit for the romance of the FA Cup by losing to Wigan twice in the last few years, first in the 2013 final and then in the quarters a year later. Incredibly this hectic night might eclipse both those upsets.

The chances of the underdogs completing a hat-trick looked slim with two divisions separating the sides and City practically crowned champions already, though where there is Claudio Bravo in goal there is always hope and Pep Guardiola sportingly offered Wigan further encouragement by starting with Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker on the bench.

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