The FA Cup

Latics produced a famous FA Cup third-round victory when they knocked out Premier League Bournemouth 3-0 at the DW Stadium.

The home team went ahead after only nine minutes through captain Sam Morsy after great play by Ryan Colclough and they continued to dominate the Cherries throughout the first half.

Bournemouth responded after the interval creating several good chances but they were profligate in front of goal, with striker Benik Afobe in particular missing some great opportunities to get them back into the game.

Latics always looked dangerous on the break and they went two up on 73 minutes when substitute Dan Burn got on the end of a Noel Hunt flick from Max Power’s excellent cross.

The result was then sealed on 76 minutes when Callum Elder produced a pinpoint header into the far corner past Artur Boruc from another superb Max Power cross.

Latics now have a fourth-round tie against West Ham at the DW Stadium on 27th January and on this form they will stand a very good chance of causing another upset.

Paul Cook surprisingly made six changes to the starting line-up from Saturday’s draw with Peterborough, with Jamie Jones, Alex Bruce, Callum Elder, David Perkins, Gary Roberts and Ryan Colclough all making rare appearances.

Latics’ first attempt came on six minutes when Gavin Massey forced Boruc into a smart save.

It was not long after that they went ahead following some great work by Colclough.

The winger beat several Bournemouth defenders before producing a low cross into Will Grigg, the striker’s initial effort was pushed away by Boruc, but on the follow up it was converted by Morsy.

The Cherries responded with a Ryan Fraser free kick which narrowly cleared the crossbar, a deflected effort by Lys Mousset, and an Afobe header which was well saved by Jones.

But Latics always looked a threat on the counter and Colclough blazed wide after creating a good shooting opportunity for himself.

The League One team were ahead at half time, but as expected the Premier League team rallied after the interval. Fraser forcing Jones into a good save at his near post and Perkins blocking well from Connor Mahoney.

Latics continued to pose a threat though and Colclough fired another effort narrowly wide of the target.

Afobe then had a golden opportunity to draw the Cherries level when he was through on goal but he somehow contrived to miss the target.

The Cherries were to rue the miss as substitute Dan Burn made it 2-0, only two minutes after coming onto the pitch.

The big centre-back finishing superbly as he got on the end of a Noel Hunt flick from Max Power’s excellent cross.

Latics third goal came three minutes later as another superb cross from Power found Elder at the back post and the full back’s pinpoint header beat Boruc.

It was a tremendous display by Latics against a strong Bournemouth team and they thoroughly deserved to progress into the fourth-round. Four years after winning the famous trophy they are once again causing a stir in the FA Cup.