Report by John Patrick Heeley

Latics bowed out of this year's FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat at Notts County.

Bruce Rioch decided to make nine changes from the side that beat Wycombe at the weekend and rest a number of his key players.

An Ian Kilford equaliser at the end of the 1st half was cancelled out in extra time by Liburd.

Wigan manager Bruce Rioch rested several of his key players ahead of this weekend's crunch clash against Stoke City at the JJB Stadium.

In fact nine changes were made from the side that beat Wycombe at the weekend. Roy Carroll was relegated to the bench in favour of Derek Stillie and there were no places in the squad for Simon Haworth, Andy Liddell, Kevin Sharp, Pat McGibbon or Carl Bradshaw as Wigan's squad took an unfamiliar look.

The prospect of a trip to Selhurst Park and Wimbledon in the next round was not the most appealing to many but it is the FA Cup when all's said and done and further progression in the competition should be a mission not an option.

The home side dominated much of the early exchanges and much like the first game at the JJB Stadium they didn't capitalise on the clear cut chances they created for themselves.

Danny Allsopp was again in the thick of things and could have had his name on the scoresheet on more than one occasion.

Notts County took the lead after 26 minutes through RICHARD LIBURD with his first goal of the season, and only his third in nearly 2 1/2 years with the club.

The defender was in the right place for an easy tap in from Mark Stallard's cross to open the scoring.

Neil Redfearn, making a rare start these days for Wigan, went close to levelling the score twelve minutes later when his free kick rattled the bottom of the upright and was cleared from danger.

As the first half reached it's conclusion Latics grabbed the leveller against the run of play after Darren Ward in the County goal was unable to keep hold of a Keith Gillespie shot with the ball falling to Neil Roberts who couldn't control it but up popped IAN KILFORD to slot in from close range.

HALF TIME: Notts County 1 Wigan 1

Wigan came out for the second half and completely dominated the game from then on.

Attack after attack but Latics couldn't quite find the final finishing touch and found Ward in spectacular form between the posts denying both Ian Kilford and Lee Ashcroft.

Neil Redfearn sent an header marginally wide of the mark from an Ashcroft cross in the final ten minutes of normal time but it wasn't going to be Wigan's night as they couldn't find a way through.

FULL TIME: Notts County 1 Wigan 1

Wigan's second string continued with it's gutsy performance throughout extra time but it was Notts County who took the spoils.

David Joseaf, currently on loan from Montpellier, came off the bench and within two minutes put a cross over to RICHARD LIBURD on the edge of the area.

The defender looked up, controlled the ball and rattled a left foot volley past a helpless Stillie and into the back of the net to double his tally on the night.

Latics used all three of their substitutions and gave a debut to Irish lad Hugh Dickson but the game fizzled out and the night and the trip to Selhurst Park belonged to Notts County.

SCORE AFTER EXTRA TIME: Notts County 2 Wigan 1