Source: Daily_Mail
Wigan 4 Hull 1: N'Zogbia shows class, shame so few were around to see it
There was a time when January meant the FA Cup in the football calendar. Now it means the transfer window. At a deserted DW Stadium, it was easy to see which carried greater significance to both sides.[LNB] It was a damning indictment of Wigan and Hull that non-league Barrow took more fans to Sunderland than the two Barclays Premier League clubs mustered between them. [LNB] Class act: Charles N'Zogbia of Wigan scores the equaliser past Boaz Myhill[LNB]Nor did it reflect well that only one FA Cup tie - League Two Torquay against League One Brighton - attracted a lower gate.[LNB]Magic of the Cup?None whatsoever. The two managers made a total of 13 changes, and the attendance of 5,335 was less than half the gate that watched Bradford's League Two game with Cheltenham Town.[LNB]A minuscule crowd of 5,335 did include a dozen scouts as weakened teams featured footballers in the shop window for very different reasons. But although Hull's sub-standard squad players could be grateful so few fans turned up to see them capitulate, Wigan's match-winner should be aggrieved.[LNB] Charles N'Zogbia was terrific. But with a ground four-fifths empty, few could testify to that. His talents deserved a bigger audience. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez certainly thinks so. He expects the winger, who turned the game during his two-goal cameo, to achieve greatness.[LNB] It is unlikely to be at the DW Stadium and while telling N'Zogbia to aim higher than in-form Birmingham City, Martinez accepts the French winger could leave in the summer.[LNB] He said: 'I have no doubt Charlie is going to go to the top of world football, but the timing has to be right for Wigan.[LNB] Cup romance: Wigan mascot Stripey gets close to Hull's Roary at a deserted DW Stadium[LNB] 'This is probably the first campaign in which he has been consistent and a real threat in every game.[LNB] 'I think he knows he can carry on developing over the next four months. We are not going to stop any player from moving to a different challenge but the timing has to be right.'[LNB] N'Zogbia came on at half-time, scored within two minutes with a low drive and effectively secured victory with a precise shot in the 66th minute.[LNB] In between, he set up teenager James McCarthy, whose first Wigan goal was deflected in off Steven Mouyokolo. Scott Sinclair completed Wigan's comeback with a fierce shot after Geovanni had given Hull the lead with a fine free-kick.[LNB] H ull boss Phil Brown accused his fringe players of lacking fighting spirit and warned that they face a future elsewhere. [LNB]He said: 'That wasn't our usual character. You are on show when you cross the white line, regardless of whether you're leaving the football club. We've got to make big decisions in January and a lot of players will be moved on. I will be doing everything I can to strengthen in terms of quality coming in as opposed to the numbers going out.'[LNB] Wigan (4-2-3-1): Pollitt 6; Melchiot 6, Bramble 6, Amaya 6, Figueroa 7; Thomas 7, McCarthy 8; Sinclair 8, Scotland 6, Koumas 5 (N'Zogbia 46min, 9); Rodallega 7 (Watson 78).[LNB] Hull (4-4-2): Myhill 6; Mendy 5, Zayatte 6, Mouyokolo 5, Kilbane 4; Garcia 6, Geovanni 7, Cairney 6, Halmosi 4 (Boateng 72, 6); Ghilas 7 (Cullen 67, 6), Vennegoor of Hesselink 5 (Altidore, 79). Booked: Cullen.[LNB] Man of the match: Charles N'Zogbia. Referee: Andre Marriner. [LNB] Empty seats all round as Wigan and Hull set out on the road to Wembley Wigan 4 Hull 1: Sub N'Zogbia does the trick but magic of the Cup lost on fansSo who was up for the cup? Sportsmail takes a look at FA Cup third round attendances[LNB] [LNB]
