Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio masterminded an FA Cup giant-killing as his League Two side defeated Premier League strugglers Wigan 2-1 in the third round on Saturday.
Di Canio provided many memorable moments during his controversial career with the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham and the Italian striker was back in the limelight thanks to an inspired display from his underdogs at the County Ground.
In his first season as boss at Swindon -- a tiny west of England club who enjoyed one season in the Premier League in the 1990s -- Di Canio has breathed new life into a previously under-achieving squad and they were able to come from behind to pile more misery on Wigan, who sit second bottom of the Premier League.
Making a mockery of the 53 places separating them in English football, Swindon recovered from Callum McManaman's first half strike to level through Alan Connell before Paul Benson deflected in the second half winner.
Di Canio etched his name into FA Cup folklore when he slotted past Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to win a fourth-round tie for West Ham at Old Trafford in 2001.
And the 43-year-old conjured up a little more magic to lead Swindon into the fourth round for the first time in 16 years.
Di Canio's team should have taken the lead as Raffaele De Vita seized on an errant Adrian Lopez pass and picked out Ronan Murray, only for the on-loan Ipswich striker to fire at Ali Al Habsi.
Hendry Thomas blazed over the Swindon bar at the other end a minute later, while Paul Caddis' deflected cross almost embarrassed Al Habsi who was grateful to see it skid past his right-hand post.
Wigan broke the deadlock after 34 minutes when Aden Flint felled McManaman in the area, referee Peter Walton pointed to the spot and, after Ben Watson smashed the resulting spot-kick against a post, McManaman was on hand to convert the rebound.
But Swindon responded well and equalised five minutes before half-time as Matt Ritchie's cross picked out Connell, whose glancing header nestled in the bottom right-hand corner.
Wigan thought they regained the lead two minutes later when Shaun Maloney had the ball in the back of the net, but the effort was disallowed for offside.
Di Canio sent on Benson at half-time and it proved an inspired change.
On the hour mark Ritchie missed a glorious chance to hand the underdogs a shock lead when he shot wide from close-range.
But the hosts bagged the winner in the 76th minute as Ritchie collected Simon Ferry's pass 25 yards out and let fly with a low drive which struck the legs of Benson and rolled into the net with Al Habsi prostrate on the floor.
Source: AFP
