Everton 0-3 Wigan: Latics reach FA Cup semi-finals after stunning win

Wigan Athletic will make their first trip to the new Wembley next month as they progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals after thrashing Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park.

The Latics last reached the home of football when they won the Football League Trophy in 1999 but they will return in April after a breathtaking victory over their Premier League rivals.

Everton have enjoyed a brilliant decade under David Moyes and he had hoped this could be the season he would finally be able to give the fans a trophy to celebrate, but a torrid showing from his players means Wigan progress.

Roberto Martinez’s side attacked from the off on Merseyside and Shaun Maloney’s fine curling strike nearly opened the scoring, but as he wheeled away to celebrate the ball cannoned back off the upright.

They did, though, grab the lead on the half-hour mark when Maynor Figueroa headed home a corner after losing his marker.

A minute later Wigan were gifted a second when Phil Neville passed the ball straight to Callum McManaman who ran through on goal and fired beyond the on-rushing Jan Mucha.

And, three minutes after notching their first goal, the Latics hit their third as Arouna Kone found Jordi Gomez on the edge of the area and the Spaniard slid a fine finish into the bottom left corner with Mucha rooted to the spot.

Maloney, on two occasions, nearly made it 4-0 but Mucha, deputising for the injured Tim Howard, was able to claw the ball away from the top corner of the net.

The ineffective Marouane Fellaini was jeered as he left the field in the second period as the passionate Toffees support voiced their displeasure at such a gutless display from their idols.

Everton were totally devoid of ideas and effort, while fortune deserted them late on with Kevin Mirallas seeing a strike ruled out as he was adjudged offside and Joel Robles denying Leon Osman with a fine stop from close range.

But Wigan were able to hold on to the victory and make history, which will delight chairman Dave Whelan who has taken the north west side up from League Two to the top flight since taking over the club since his arrival in 1995.