PAUL JEWELL probably relished the prospect of an extended FA Cup replay at Elland Road like a turkey looks forward to the Christmas lights being turned on — with a sense of foreboding.
The Wigan Athletic manager has bemoaned the fixture congestion that has blighted his side’s unexpected progress in the Barclays Premiership and the fatigue factor was exacerbated when Leeds United refused to delay this third-round match by 24 hours.
Thriving in adversity, however, has become second nature to Jewell since his days preserving Bradford City’s top- flight status and Wigan endured extra time, penalties and a spirited Leeds revival to secure an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Manchester City.
It is the first time that Wigan have reached this stage since 1987, when Leeds beat them in the competition. A satisfying revenge on several levels for Jewell. “I think Leeds not putting the game back worked against them in a perverse way,” he said. “We had a team meeting on Monday and I told the players no one gives you anything in football and nobody likes us. I wanted a bit of siege mentality.”
Three times Wigan held the lead, the first occasion when Andreas Johansson took Jason Roberts’s measured pass in his stride in the 23rd minute. The Sweden forward, who will oppose England in the World Cup finals, trickled his first effort against the post but as Stephen Crainey challenged, he forced the rebound over the line for the softest of goals, only his third in a year. Rio Ferdinand and John Terry may sleep easily over the coming months.
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It was Rob Hulse’s head, his most potent asset, that created the first of three Leeds equalisers in the 40th minute, muscling out his marker from a right-wing corner as John Filan parried his header to David Healy, who pounced for his ninth goal of the season.
“We have come from behind so many times that I was not too bothered when we went behind,” Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds manager, said. “Against a side in the top six of the Premiership, we showed how far we have come.”
Jason Roberts restored Wigan’s lead in the 50th minute, an impressive effort from the Grenada forward; a nice first touch, then an agile twirl and instant volley from 18 yards. Less impressive were the three Leeds defenders who stood admiringly as he executed his pirouette.
Leeds, though, retaliated well. Eddie Lewis’s shot bounced off the crossbar before the home side levelled once more. Again, Hulse’s aerial power from a corner kick was pivotal. Matt Jackson handled to deny the Leeds player and, from the spot kick, Healy calmly converted.
Extra time provided further drama as Roberts, with a smart header from Graham Kavanagh’s cross, made it 3-2 in the 103rd minute.
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That should have been it but Gary Kelly had other ideas. With five minutes of extra time remaining, he unleashed a marvellous volley that arrowed into the top corner of the net.
If only his colleagues had been as accurate with their penalties. Healy ballooned the first one over and when Hulse repeated the feat, Kavanagh’s conversion maintained Wigan’s unblemished record and the visiting side had prevailed.
“I live in Leeds and my kids have to go to school today,” Jewell said. “They told me to forget about Premiership survival and just make sure you win tonight. At least they can go to school with a smile on their faces today.”
LEEDS UNITED (4-3-3): N Sullivan — G Kelly, P Butler, M Kilgallon, S Crainey — S Walton (sub: R Blake, 103min), L Miller (sub: G Einarsson, 87), J Douglas — D Healy, R Hulse, E Lewis (sub: R Cresswell, 88). Substitutes not used: I Bennett, D Pugh. Booked: Walton
WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2): J Filan — P Chimbonda, M Jackson, A De Zeeuw, L Baines — G Teale, G Kavanagh, D Francis (sub: J Bullard, 77), J Skoko (sub: L Joyce, 100) — A Johansson, J Roberts. Substitutes not used: M Pollitt, K Lee.
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Referee: G Poll.