FA Cup? Latics 1-1 Bournemouth

The FA cup hey, spent my formative years worshipping this competition, all seems a waste of time now, but still every year I fall into the same trap, I get giddy and expect passion football in one off games, I'll never learn

The Latics made NINE changes from the side that lost to Manchester United (were they that bad?) as they prepared to face League 1's form team, Bournemouth.

I was hoping for a glimpse of new signings Angelo Henriquez and Roger Espinoza, the former came on at half-time, the latter, well I'll have to wait a little longer

The first half began with Bournemouth making most of the running, they were cheered on by a very large and very vocal away following. They look a very decent side, technically good players, great movement off the ball and a willingness to work their socks off for each other.

In contrast the Latics appeared quite lacklustre, perhaps a case of too many changes or possibly not enough quality in the team, debateable. Whatever the reason we were getting over run in midfield, just 15 minutes in and it looked like Bournemouth were going to take the lead, Matt Tubbs pounced on a loose ball in the Latics box only for Danny Redman to make a fantastic last ditch tackle knocking the ball out for a corner

Bournemouth took heart and surged forward at every opportunity, whilst the Latics played possession football without going anywhere. Mid-way through the half Bournemouth wingman Marc Pugh burst into the penalty area, two Latics players came in and made a challenge, down went Pugh, the home fans held their breath as the referee blew his whistle, surprisingly Pugh was booked for diving and the Latics got a free-kick, luck on our side?

On 40 minutes Bournemouth took the lead, on the balance of play in the first half it was no more than they deserved. Eunan O'Kane hit a fierce strike from 14 yards that flew past Mike Pollitt into the far bottom corner, 0-1

Martinez shuffled his pack at half-time, Danny Redman was taken off and Angelo Henriquez came on to make his debut and almost got the perfect start. A Dave Jones free kick was driven into the area from the right hand touch line, Henriquez got in front of his marker and smacked a header against the bar from 12 yards with the Bournemouth keeper well beaten.

For the majority of the second period Bournemouth were content to sit back and let the Latics have possession, with 10 men behind the ball our ponderous play was finding it difficult to get round the defence and create any real chances.

Maynor Figueroa was unlucky with a great strike from 30 yards that thundered against the cross bar, but his luck changed on 70 minutes when the referee awarded the Latics a penalty after he'd spotted someone pulling Figgy's shirt at a corner

Jordi Gomez stepped up and fired the spot kick straight down the middle, Bournemouth keeper Shwan Jalal parried, Gomez reacted calmly and poked home the rebound from 3 yards, 1-1

Martinez sensed that the Latics could get a winner and sent on Nouha Dicko and James McArthur for Dave Jones and Fraser Fyvie, Dicko looked a live wire but no clear cut chances were created in the final 10 minutes.

So it's off to Dean Court for the replay, if we want to progress to the next round then we will need to step up a gear or two

Jordi Gomez

Looked the only player with any quality in the Latics midfield Latics - Pollitt, Jones (Dicko 78), Gomez, McManaman, Boyce, Boselli, Fyvie (McArthur 78), Stam, Golobart, Redmond (Henriquez 45), Figueroa
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Espinoza, Kiernan, Campabadal

AFC Bournemouth - Jalal, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Pugh, Arter, Daniels, McQuoid (Pitman 88), Hughes (Foggden90), O'Kane, Tubbs (Partington 66)

Subs not used: James, McDermott, Demouge, Fletcher

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