Carlisle United 0-2 Wigan Athletic: Spirited Blues beaten

The Cumbrians gave a hugely spirited performance against their League One visitors after losing Ethan Robson to a 14th-minute red card.

But Wigan finally scored in the 14th minute of extra-time when Scott Smith scored.

Jonny Smith then sealed the Latics' victory in the final seconds, shooting into an empty net after United's keeper Gabe Breeze had come up for a corner.

It meant defeat for Carlisle in the first round, but supporters gave Mike Williamson's League Two strugglers a hugely positive reception after an afternoon of impressive endeavour against Shaun Maloney's side.

The Cumbrians, before and after Robson's dismissal for a challenge on Steven Sessegnon, had good chances to score while it became a rearguard action from the second half onwards, with Breeze superb in goal after coming into the side for Harry Lewis.

Ethan Robson saw red for this challenge on Steven Sessegnon (Image: Ben Holmes)

Williamson named a much-changed team for the cup clash.

The head coach made six changes, with Tyler Burey getting his first start, Daniel Adu-Adjei back in the side on his return from injury, and Breeze replacing Lewis in goal.

Also recalled were Aaron Hayden, Harrison Neal and Jon Mellish, with Lewis, Cameron Harper, Callum Guy, Ben Barclay and Luke Armstrong dropping to the bench and Harrison Biggins out of the squad.

United's nine-man bench also included Jack Ellis, Jack Robinson and youth team player Dan Hopper.

Tyler Burey on the attack for United (Image: Ben Holmes)

Wigan boss Maloney made two changes to his XI, with Toby Sibbick and Luke Robinson coming in for Will Aimson and Calvin Ramsey.

The game got under way after a minute's applause in memory of a number of Blues fans who have passed away in the last month.

Carlisle could have scored inside the first two minutes when they won the ball on the right and Adu-Adjei ran at the defence before his low shot was pushed behind by keeper Sam Tickle.

A powerful run by Mellish then almost set up another opportunity, before the game's first major flashpoint came as Robson, trying to win a 50-50 as the ball broke, caught Sessegnon with his lunge.

Brunton Park was furious as referee Martin Woods showed a straight red card, with Sessegnon booed loudly by home fans who felt he had exaggerated the effect of Robson's challenge, which caught the Latics man high on his shin.

Carlisle filed into a 4-4-1 formation yet continued to compete well with Maloney's side, one Terell Thomas ball finding Taylor Charters behind the defence with Tickle off his line.

The west Cumbrian declined to shoot, instead crossing for Adu-Adjei, whose header was saved.

Wigan went on to have the lion's share of possession but seldom created real first-half chances, Thelo Aasgaard firing a free-kick over the bar from 30 yards after being fouled by Neal.

Jon Mellish and Taylor Charters come close for Carlisle (Image: Ben Holmes)

A good Charters free-kick at the other end saw Hayden almost pounce at the far post, Wigan hooking it clear just in front of the line.

Aasgaard was a threat for Wigan, and United needed Neal to make a good block to repel his shot from the left, before Carlisle again came close, this time when Burey's cross from the right was scrambled behind by the visitors as Charters and Mellish looked to convert at close range.

Jon Mellish attacks for Carlisle (Image: Ben Holmes)

There were pantomime cheers from home fans when Sessegnon lashed a shot into the Warwick Road End, Carlisle continuing to keep a disciplined defensive shape which was often 5-3-1, before the half-time whistle brought encouraging roars from home fans for United's efforts - and loud jeers for Sessegnon and the officials.

Wigan boss Maloney made three changes at the break, Sessegnon among those replaced.

The frustrated visiting fans, after captain Jason Kerr's long-range shot was easily saved by Breeze, sang, 'We've had a shot...'

And they could have conceded moments later when Burey's pace earned Carlisle a corner and Dominic Sadi's delivery found Mellish in space, but the defender headed wide from a good position.

At the other end Sam Lavelle timed a challenge well to intercept a Dale Taylor break as ten-man United continued to perform with good spirit.

Breeze excelled with a fine save from Wigan sub Calvin Ramsey before the Blues threatened again as Charters fed Adu-Adjei beyond the visiting defence, but Wigan got back to deny the striker.

Adu-Adjei and Burey, who was struggling with cramp, were replaced on the hour, Armstrong and Ellis coming on for United, who were now very much up against it.

Wigan upped the pressure and Aasgaard twice had chances to open the scoring, first when heading wide under pressure from Hayden, then heading wide from a great position when picked out by a cross from the right.

They came close again when sub Silko Thomas kept the ball in on the left and cut it into the box, where Taylor's finish struck the left-hand post.

Thomas then crossed dangerously into the box again and Scott Smith's finish was goalbound but the impressive Breeze denied him with a fine save.

Williamson then sent on Harper and Robinson for the last 15 minutes, before Silko Thomas was denied at close range twice by the Blues.

Mike Williamson speaks to the players before extra-time (Image: Ben Holmes)

Late on, Aasgaard failed to convert a Matt Smith pass, Breeze showing safe hands again, the visitors continuing to pile the pressure on the outnumbered Blues.

Lavelle blocked a Jonny Smith shot in added time, United's ten men holding on impressively to take the tie to extra-time, backed by a vocal 4,532 crowd.

Wigan were soon onto the attack again with Breeze denying Scott Smith in the third minute of extra-time.

The Blues keeper then pushed a Sibbick shot behind, before Carlisle broke as Robinson set up Sadi, who was closed down in the Wigan box.

The rearguard action then resumed as Jonny Smith shot into the Warwick for Wigan, Terell Thomas then rescuing United after Aasgaard had fed Scott Smith to cross into the six-yard box.

Dominic Sadi was denied by a brilliant Sam Tickle save in extra-time (Image: Ben Holmes)

Sub Joe Hugill then failed to convert a Thomas cross - but Wigan then finally broke Carlisle's resistance moments before half-time in extra-time, when a low Silko Thomas cross from the left found Scott Smith in front of his man and he turned the ball past Breeze.

Carlisle had 15 minutes to find a response, Neal and Robinson testing the visiting defence with crosses - and then they came so close to a leveller with eight minutes remaining.

Harper's corner was cleared as far as Sadi and, on the half-volley, the loanee arrowed a shot towards the top corner from outside the box, but Tickle was equal to it with a terrific save.

Later, the Wigan keeper again showed impressive reflexes to tip over an Armstrong header.

Wigan broke to score their second at the end of extra-time after keeper Breeze had come up for a Carlisle corner (Image: Ben Holmes)

A final Carlisle corner was then cleared and, with keeper Breeze having come up to compete for it, Wigan broke and Jonny Smith converted with the goal empty.

That sent Wigan into Sunday's second round draw as Carlisle were left to reflect on their spirited efforts in defeat before they return to league action at Salford City next weekend.

United: Breeze, T Thomas (Barclay 111), Lavelle, Hayden (Robinson 75), Mellish, Neal, Robson, Charters (Harper 75), Sadi, Burey (Ellis 59), Adu-Adjei (Armstrong 59). Not used: Lewis, Guy, Vela, Hopper.

Booked: Neal, Lavelle. Sent off: Robson.

Wigan: Tickle, Robinson (S Smith 57), Sibbick, Kerr, Sessegnon (Ramsey 46), Rankine (J Smith 46), M Smith, Aasgaard, Francois, Olakigbe (S Thomas 46), Taylor (Hugill 75). Not used: Watson, Weir, Carragher, Asamoah.

Goals: S Smith 105, J Smith 120.

Booked: Rankine, Olakigbe.

Ref: Martin Woods.

Crowd: 4,532 (1,257 Wigan fans).