The Latics dumped Wolves out of the FA Cup with an impressive performance at Molineaux on Tuesday night. They won 2-1 in the first-round replay with goals from Danny Philliskirk and substitute Adam Rooney and the result left manager Lee Johnson on cloud nine.
Johnson said, “The players are getting in tune with one another and that is important, because our patterns, movement, defending and balance is so much better than it was. It is no fluke, as we spend so much time working on it. Danny could have had a hat-trick and the midfield two of Anton Rodgers and James Wesolowski were very good in their distribution of the ball and their work-rate. Genseric Kusunga is getting better and better with every game. It is good now as we have Joseph Mills and Jonathan Grounds to come back, while David Mellor did well, too. People can start influencing others. We have got to keep getting better. We haven’t cracked anything yet, although I do feel like we are on the right track.”
“It (Philliskirk's goal) went over the line and the referee had a little look at the linesman and looked like he wasn’t going to give it. Time stood still, for me anyway. I knew it was a fumble. Jonno is dangerous in that area. He does put some power behind it and Philly, like a true poacher, poked it in. It was deserved at the time and we could have gone on to get two or three more goals. It was a good finish from Rooney and I am delighted for him. It is good to get a goal from open play and he also had another couple of shots. He has been unlucky as the form of Clarke-Harris and Philliskirk have kept him out. There you go – we also have Kirk Millar to come back in and Charlie MacDonald as well. With those players on fire, hopefully we are looking sound up front and defensively.”
“It was a nice treat for our fans who travelled again, they were very vocal and got behind the lads. I appreciate that everyone sees what we are trying to do and now we have to kick on in the league. Mansfield is a tough game but let’s think about it when we get to it. It is a home tie and hopefully, if we can get good form going into it we can put another performance in. I want to be both a cup and a league team. It is fortunate we have everyone fit now and we will have to use the full squad, no doubt.”
Mansfield come to Boundary Park on 7th December for the second round match.