The growing reduction of the gap between the bottom two divisions of the EFL and the National League was clearly evident when bookmakers made Boreham Wood, top of the fifth tier, favourites as they took on League One strugglers Wigan Athletic at Meadow Park.
With The Wood 12 points clear at the top and unbeaten going into the game, and the Latics on a run of four straight defeats, a home win would barely have registered as an upset.
Wigan, winners as recently as 2013, showed there is still life in them yet as they eased to a 3-0 win as Jon Mellish and Morgan Fox (2) inflicted a first defeat of the season on Luke Garrard’s side.
“They were favourites for the game and it was a little bit disrespectful,” said manager Gary Caldwell.
“We are a very good League One team, albeit we’ve not had the start we’d like, but when I see things like that, I thought people expected us to come here and get beat.
“We showed a professionalism, an attitude, a desire and hunger to win a football match that you need to win an FA Cup match away from home.”