Wigan Athletic go through to the second round of the Carabao Cup after beating Hull City 8-7 on penalties. The game finished 1-1 in regular time, with Stephen Humphries putting the Latics ahead before Keane Lewis Potter levelled the scores. It was Di'Shon Bernard who was the unfortunate casualty of penalties; the only player to miss and the blow that sent Hull City out at the first round.

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  • Story of the match

First Half

Hull City got the game underway and the tempo was brisk right from the off, trying to get forward at every opportunity. Stephen Humphries was fortunate to win a free kick against Jacob Greaves, and the resulting header from Jordan Cousins just looped wide with barely three minutes on the clock.

The play then slowed slightly, with Wigan seeing slightly more of the ball in the opening stages. Hull grew into the game as it passed the ten minute mark, but there were no real chances for either side until a mistake from goalkeeper Nathan Baxter presented Humphrys with a shooting chance - but the keeper recovered to gather the tame effort.

Matt Smith had the first chance for the Tigers, curling just wide on 16 minutes. Di'Shon Bernard played in Josh Emmanuel down the right, and George Moncur laid it off for Smith to shoot from the edge of the area on his full debut. Baxter then saved well from Humphries before good work from Keane Lewis-Potter bought the Tigers a freekick - but decent defending from Wigan saw the game remain 0-0 with 20 minutes gone.

Wigan had the next chance from a soft free kick given their way, but again the ball went just wide on 27 minutes. Andy Cannon had a shot blocked for City before Tom Eaves slid in late on a Wigan defender and was lucky to escape a caution ten minutes before the break. Quick thinking from Baxter saw James Scott counter attack, but Cannon's ball just eluded Emmanuel.

The referee brought the first half to a close with neither side looking like scoring after 45 minutes.

Second Half

Neither side made changes at half time, and it was Wigan with the first chance of the half as Baxter got down easily to save from Humphries. After a defensive mix up on 49 minutes though, Wigan went ahead. The ball wasn't cleared and Humphries smashed home past Baxter.

City then started to dominate the ball and it was a superb pass from Moncur on 54 minutes that put in Keane Lewis-Potter for a carbon copy of his goal from the weekend against Preston - a lovely curling finish past Jamie Jones to make it 1-1. The home side were fortunate that Emmanuel's lax marking at the back post wasn't punished when Jordan Jones skied his effort high and wide two minutes later.

Keane Lewis Potter then left the field to be replaced by Will Jarvis, and Greaves also left the pitch to be replaced by youngster Andy Smith on the hour mark.

Hull dominated the ball from then on, and Tom Eaves showed great skill to win a corner on 64 minutes - and he nearly put City ahead, but found only the side netting. James Scott found the same part of the net not long after after good work from Matt Smith.

With 20 minutes to go, Bernard should have put the home side ahead with a header from a corner that went just wide. Harry Wood then came on to replace Moncur for the Tigers as the last 15 minutes of the game approached. Will Keane hit the post with a header, denied a goal against his former club by inches.

Neither side had opportunities as the clock ticked down, and the game looked set to go to penalties as Harry Wood's effort whistled just past the post after Eaves had knocked down for the youngster. Indeed, the game did go straight to penalties.

Penalties

Eaves put Hull ahead on spot kicks, and then Will Keane tucked his away too for the Latics. James Scott cooly slotted the second penalty to the right of Jones, and Thelo Aasgaard slammed his down the middle for 2-2. Harry Wood showed great character to side foot his home and Jordan Jones put his down the middle for 3-3.

Emmanuel's penalty went in off Jones' gloves before Gavin Massey made it 4-4. Matty Smith's effort was calmly dispatched, as was Tom Naylor's in a flawless set of penalties. Someone had to slip up - but it wasn't Will Jarvis, who made it 6-5 - before Jamie Jones levelled. Up stepped Brandon Fleming tucked his away, as did Luke Robinson. Di'Shon Bernard's effort was skied high in the first miss of the game, giving Wigan the chance to win it - which they took to end the game, winning 8-7 on penalties.

  • Takeaways from the match

Much changed Tigers struggle to hit top form

With seven changes, two debuts and a very young bench, it was understandable that McCann's side weren't at their sparkling best. They looked fairly solid without really threatening Wigan until they went behind, and Lewis-Potter put the Tigers level with the only real clear cut chance of the game.

Penalties almost flawless

Spare a thought for the unfortunate Di'Shon Bernard, the only player to miss his spot kick. He was impressive throughout the game, but lost his nerve for his spot kick - sending it high into the South Stand. Youngsters Will Jarvis and Harry Wood both took their penalties for the Tigers, showing maturity beyond their years.

  • Stand-out players

Matty Smith was in excellent form in midfield for the Tigers, alongside George Moncur - both looked to get on the ball and power forward, with the latter putting in the impressive Lewis-Potter for his well taken goal. Both Will Jarvis and Harry Wood came on to show great endeavour for the home side and with other youngsters not coming on but named on the bench, the future of the club certainly seems to be exciting.

Stephen Humphries was in excellent form for Wigan and never stopped running - he was a pest to Greaves and Bernard all game and got on the scoresheet for his perseverance. 

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