Wigan vs Southampton as it happened: FA Cup quarter-final

Match report: Mark Hughes gets Southampton tenure off to winning start Five things we learned from Wigan 0-2 Southampton

Southampton ended Wigan's fairytale cup run at the DW Stadium (Getty Images)

Giant-killers Wigan Athletic of the third tier, who eliminated Manchester City in the fifth round, bid to continue their dream FA Cup run against a relegation-threatened Southampton side looking to find form under newly appointed manager Mark Hughes.

Following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday evening, Hughes was appointed this week and took charge of his first training session on Thursday ahead of this tie.

He has been tasked with keeping Southampton in the Premier League, so this could be seen as the perfect opening match for him to assess his players with the pressure off and the potential of a morale-boosting place in the FA Cup semi-finals at stake.

Follow all the action below with our live blog:

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[18 March 2018 12:45 · Jack Watson]

Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of Wigan vs Southampton. Mark Hughes takes charge of his first match as Saints boss after Mauricio Pellegrino was dismissed early last week and while Wigan eye another giant killing, after defeating Manchester City in the previous round. 

Oh by the way, did you think Dave Whelan is a bit proud of Wigan's 2013 FA Cup triumph?

[18 March 2018 12:47 · Jack Watson]

Team News

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[18 March 2018 12:52 · Jack Watson]

Team News

It's fair to say that Southampton fans are already warming to Mark Hughes. Mauricio Pellegrino was reluctant to play two forwards and his Southampton side really lacked firepower. Hughes has come in and shaken things up by playing Manolo Gabbiadini and Guido Carrillo.

[18 March 2018 12:56 · Jack Watson]

Grigg's on fire

Remember the song, well how could you forget it? Anyway, Will Grigg is on fire in the FA Cup and is the competition's leading scorer with seven goals.

His most memorable coming against Manchester City in the last round.

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[18 March 2018 13:00 · Jack Watson]

Journey so far

So how did each side get to this point? 

Wigan entered the competition in second round when they beat Flyde in December, since then they've beaten Bouremouth, West Ham and Manchester City.

Fulham, Watford and West Brom were the teams eased aside by Southampton on their way to the quarter final.  

[18 March 2018 13:03 · Jack Watson]

"We've got no time to wait​"

New Southampton manager Mark Hughes says that Southampton have to get going quickly and have no time to waste if they're to stay up in the Premier League.

"Sometimes you have to step on people's toes and we are in that situation. When you've got the luxury of a little bit more time you can build relationships and that takes time. We've got no time to wait. We have eight weeks and we have to get on with it. If we upset people along the way they will have to accept it.

"It's about the end game and making sure we are successful when we look back on this period. There's a willingness in the two days we have been here, a real energy to the club which I've liked and everybody is pushing in the right direction, but we have to keep that going by winning football matches and that is the hard bit.

"I work in a certain way and with certain levels of training intensity I am looking for. I have seen that in the last two days: the levels that I demand I have seen."

[18 March 2018 13:04 · Jack Watson]

[18 March 2018 13:11 · Jack Watson]

Que sera

The winner of this match, in case you need reminding, will join Tottenham and Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup, which will be played at Wembley. 

Later today Leicester host Chelsea in the last quarter-final tie and the semi-final draw will follow the conclusion of that tie. 

[18 March 2018 13:17 · Jack Watson]

Wembley an 'unbelievable incentive.'

Wigan boss Paul Cook, who used to manager Southampton's bitter rivals Portsmouth, is letting his players dream of another day at Wembley should they win this afternoon.

"It’s an unbelievable incentive for everyone, especially for us being the League One team in the Quarter Final. For me, getting through will be like getting to the final. For our players that is a prize for us for where we are as a club at the moment.

We are under no illusions how difficult it will be. We are not getting ahead of ourselves in any type of thought process. But we are allowed to dream a bit. We are so close yet so far but we can dream of what if. If we could get to the semi-final it would be an amazing achievement."

[18 March 2018 13:28 · Jack Watson]

Here we go, the teams are coming onto the pitch. You can follow all the action live with us throughout the game. Will Mark Hughes get off to a winning start as Southampton manager or could Wigan produce another giant killing? The answers to those questions and more coming up over the next 90 minutes.