The controversial referee's decision that helped Man United advance in the FA Cup

Over the last few days the European press had been speculating about what might happen to Erik Ten Hag if Manchester United did not get a good result against Wigan Athletic on Monday. The disappointing results and poor performances of the team had put the coach in an uncomfortable situation, as he was strongly criticized by the fans, while a new owner arrived at the club to take charge of soccer-related decisions.

With this scenario, an elimination in the FA Cup round of 64 against a team from England's third division like The Tree would have been a difficult blow for the Dutch manager to bear, considering that The Red Devils were already eliminated from two other tournaments (Carabao Cup and Champions League) and that in the Premier League they are far from the top.

But none of that happened. Manchester United showed the difference in quality between the two teams and were superior to their rivals throughout the match. In the first half they scored the opener through Diogo Dalot, who received a pass from Marcus Rashford and, from outside the box, shot with his left foot, making it impossible for goalkeeper Sam Tickle to save. In addition, they had many other opportunities to extend the lead, but the forwards did not have the time to take the lead.

After the break things did not change, but the Red Devils slowed down the pace to regulate the efforts and not to get too tired. After some wasted chances, Ten Hag's team scored the second goal from the spot. Referee Anthony Taylor gave a penalty after a questionable foul on Bruno Fernandes. And the Portuguese midfielder took the kick.

What's next for them?

After securing their place in the FA Cup Round of 32, Manchester United will have almost a week off until their next game. On Sunday, January 14, they will face Tottenham at Old Trafford, for the 21st Premier League matchday. This will be a key game for them, as Spurs are a direct rival in the competition to qualify for the next Champions League.