Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg struck twice as Wigan Athletic caused an FA Cup fourth round upset by sending Premier League West Ham United crashing out of the competition at the weekend.
Grigg, who has become a cult figure with the Latics fans, thundered home a powerful header past Joe Hart on seven minutes before sealing the 2-0 victory by converting a penalty just after the hour mark at the DW Stadium.
Speaking to the Latics' official site after the game, Grigg said: “It was a brilliant performance. We played on the front foot from the start and had a good tempo.
“We played really well today - every man on the pitch was tremendous.
“When you start well it’s massive so you’ve got to make that count by scoring a goal,” added Grigg, who has now scored six goals in this season’s FA Cup.
“Nathan (Byrne) put a great ball in for me and I had the easy job of nodding it in. It gave the fans a lift.”
The Wigan faithful will now look forward to Monday’s fifth round draw but Grigg, who has now found the net 14 times for the League One leaders this term, is unconcerned who they are drawn against in the next round.
“We won’t fear anyone now after beating two Premier League teams - whoever we get we’ll prepare properly for it because we want to keep that magic alive for the fans.”
Elsewhere in the FA Cup West Brom duo Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt can also look forward to tonight’s fifth round draw after helping the Baggies to a famous 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Anfield while Steven Davis’ Southampton are also in the hat after a narrow 1-0 success against Watford.
Meanwhile, winger Niall McGinn scored a spectacular goal for Aberdeen in their 3-1 success over Kilmarnock in what was his first start for the club since his return to Scotland last month.
The former Derry City and Dungannon Swifts player picked the ball up well inside his own half before advancing to the edge of the opposition’s box and unleashing an unstoppable strike past Jamie MacDonald in the Kilmarnock goal.
McGinn said: “When I picked up the ball I just kept driving forward with it.
“The boys made good runs for me, I have then nicked the ball wide and looked up and I thought why not? Let’s have a pop. Thankfully I have caught it well and the ball has gone in at the far corner.
“I am delighted to have scored in the first game I have started since I have been back,” he added, “however the most important thing was to get three points after a disappointing result against Rangers in midweek.”
The only other Northern Ireland player to get his name on the scoresheet was Stevenage midfielder Ben Kennedy who hit the only goal of the game at Chesterfield to give his side a first league win away from home since September.
Finally, back in Scotland, loanee Jordan Thompson made his first start for Livingston since his move from Rangers while goalkeeper Brett Long played his first game for League Two Elgin City after joining them on loan from Dundee United last week.
