Swindon 2 Wigan 1 

UPDATE: FA CUP 4th Round Draw

Town away to Nottingham Forest or Leicester City

 

Swindon's reward for beating Wigan in the 3rd Round is an away tie at either Nottingham Forest of Leicester City. Swindon were the last ball to be drawn out of the bag.

 

The game will be played over the weekend of the 28 & 29 January.

 

FA Cup 3rd Round

RESULT: Swindon Town 2 Wigan Athletic 1

Swindon scorers: Connell 40, Benson 76

Wigan scorer: McManaman 35 (pen)

 

Swindon came from behind to humble their Premiership opponents on an FA Cup day to remember at the County Ground.

 

By far the better team from the start, Town missed two good chances before Wigan unexpectedly went ahead from the spot after Aden Flint fouled Callum McManaman.

 

The same player then made sure after Ben Watson's spot-kick hit the post.

 

But with Paul Caddis and Callum Kennedy finding space to supply regular quality balls in from the flanks it was only five minutes before Town were level.

 

Alan Connell on hand again with a superb back-header after a beautifully delivered ball from Matt Ritchie.

 

Emotional winner

 

With their tails up and cheered on by a 15,000 capacity crowd Swindon then pressed forward knowing a second goal could be enough.

 

And despite Ritchie blasting over with only the keeper to beat, the winner finally came from new signing Paul Benson.

 

Town's substitute striker in the right place at the right time - with a hint of off-side - to deflect a Ritchie drive past Al Habsi.

 

"We were amazing, all of the players deserved this today," commented an emotional Paolo Di Canio, who paid tribute to his recently deceased father in describing the win as "....the greatest moment of my career. He would have been proud."

 

Town now go into the 4th Round draw for the first time in 16 years.

 

Swindon are ball number 20.

 

And.... the last time Swindon put out a top flight team in the 3rd round?

 

Well, you'll have to go back to January 1977 for that one - a full 35 years ago. But it was a good one.

 

Swindon hammered Fulham 5-0 at the County Ground with the likes of Bobby Moore, George Best and Rodney Marsh all turning out for the Londoners. Ahhh, the good old days!

 

> George Best - The Swindon Connection

  

NEXT FEW GAMES:

Match report sponsored by:

 

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