ZACH Clough stole the show on his Wanderers debut to book a place in the next round of the FA Cup against local rivals Wigan Athletic.

The Academy sharpshooter was born on March 8, 1995 – exactly the same day Emile Heskey made his professional debut for Leicester City in a Premier League defeat at QPR.

Nearly 20 years later they were paired in attack and though Heskey’s boots were in pristine condition thanks to the polishing cloth of comedian Paddy McGuinness, it was Clough’s who made the difference, his goal capping a stunning display.

Adam Bogdan also returned in goal for the first time since August, with Andy Lonergan rested.

The Hungary international was virtually a bystander in the first half, however, as Wanderers laid siege to the opposite goal.

How the Whites didn’t take a lead into half time is anyone’s guess, although Bogdan’s former mentor Ali Al-Habsi definitely deserves most credit from anyone in a Wigan shirt.

The Oman international hadn’t featured for the Latics since August in the Captial One Cup and has been linked with a move from the DW Stadium.

He would have attracted some admiring glances with a string of fine saves early on to keep Neil Lennon’s side at bay.

Just nine minutes in, Liam Feeney raced on to a fine threaded pass from Liam Trotter and Al-Habsi raced off his line to make a good block.

A few moments later, the Latics keeper pushed away a header from Clough and though Trotter put the ball in the net, his goal was ruled out by the referee’s assistant.

David Wheater – back in the side for the injured Matt Mills – put a header narrowly wide for Wanderers, who were playing some good football at this point, before Al-Habsi sprung athletically again to push away a flicked header from Trotter.

Wigan couldn’t get near their hosts in the opening half hour and only a fine saving challenge from Ivan Ramis prevented Feeney from opening the scoring after he ran in on Clough’s well-judged through ball.

As the interval approached Clough – having a ball by this point – played in Feeney on the left and his low cross was stabbed just wide by Heskey.

The youngster emerged just as hungry after the break, running at the Wigan defence before his shot looped up off a defender and dribbled wide with Al-Habsi wrong-footed.

Wigan had barely threatened in the first half but Bogdan produced some magnificent reflexes to push away Adam Forshaw’s header on 52 minutes.

Once again it was Clough who wrestled control back for Wanderers, picking the ball up from Trotter just inside the Wigan half and driving at the defence before bringing another smart stop out of Al-Habsi.

He got an even closer view of goal a few moments later after Heskey nodded back at the far post but Ramis was again his side’s saviour, making a saving challenge on the goal-line with Clough and Pratley waiting to pounce.

Wigan had improved slightly after the half-time arrival of Shaun Maloney and went close again through Chris McCann on the hour mark.

But the traffic remained largely one way – Craig Davies making his return from injury replacing Heskey and bringing another smart stop out of Al-Habsi with a deflected cross.

Lennon was contemplating changes on the bench when 15 minutes before the end, Clough got the goal his performance had merited.

Trotter burst through the middle and produced a perfectly-weighted ball for Clough who kept his nerve, waited for Al-Habsi to go to ground, and clipped the ball into the net like a seasoned pro.

Wanderers were reminded they could not take their eye off the ball when McClean got a sniff of goal a couple of minutes later, Bogdan making a good save at his near post. The returning keeper then held the resulting corner right on his goal-line under pressure from Emmerson Boyce.

Two minutes into injury time Bogdan again showed his quality with a breath-taking fingertip save to push Maloney’s free-kick over the crossbar.

It would have been harsh for the final say not to have gone to Clough, though, on a day where a star might well have been born at the Macron Stadium.