Wigan 2 Fulham 1

Wigan marched into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history as Fulham went the same way as fellow Premiership sides West Brom and Manchester City who found the Second Division table-toppers just too hot to handle.

The home side surged into a two-goal lead thanks to record signing Nathan Ellington and never looked back despite an anxious last five minutes when Fulham finally breached the Wigan rearguard.

Ellington struck first on 20 minutes with a low drive after a delightful back-heel from Welsh international Neil Roberts had created the opening.

And eight minutes later 'The Duke' doubled the home side's lead when he pounced on a throughball from the impressive Stephen McMillan to fire past the stranded Maik Taylor.

The visitors, without four first-team regulars, were seldom in the hunt and twice Ellington had chances to complete his hat-trick. Both chances came after the break, the first saw him shoot straight at Taylor and the second he headed wide from Peter Kennedy's cross.

The Londoners finally came alive in the last quarter and substitute Luis Boa Morte had Wigan hearts fluttering when he pulled a goal back five minutes from time, but the home side held on and will now host holders Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals.