Morgan Fox scored a brace as Wigan Athletic cruised to a 3-0 FA Cup first-round victory over Boreham Wood. The win at Meadow Park sends the Latics into the second round and offers a welcome confidence boost amid their league struggles, where they currently sit 21st in League One with 11 points from 14 games, having recorded three wins and two draws.
Jon Mellish opened the scoring inside 11 minutes, finishing after good work from Christian Saydee. Fox then doubled the lead nine minutes before halftime with a superb 25-yard free-kick that found the top corner. The defender completed his double with 16 minutes remaining, heading home an inswinging corner delivered by Max Power.
Wigan took control early and never looked back against their National League opponents. The officials allowed play to continue after a second-half tackle on Connor Barrett in the home box, but the result was never in doubt. The comfortable progression is a positive for manager Gary Caldwell, whose side has a goal difference of minus 11, having scored 11 and conceded 22 in the league. Their recent league form reads two wins, one draw and two losses, following results against Mansfield Town, Bromley, Leicester, Huddersfield and Oxford United, leaving them 18 points adrift of the automatic promotion places.
According to the data, Wigan's goals came in the 11th, 36th, and 74th minute of the match. The cup success provides momentum ahead of a key home league game against Barnsley on Saturday 14 November, which is the team's next fixture. Barnsley currently occupy 23rd place, making it a significant six-pointer at the bottom of the standings. Wigan will hope the goals from Fox and Mellish, who now have three between them this season, can spark a turnaround in their league campaign. The full fixtures list shows a busy period ahead as Caldwell's men look to climb the table.
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