By Arindam Rej BBC Sport

Darren Ambrose and Jonathan Williams scored to help Crystal Palace to a shock Carling Cup win over Premier League side Wigan.

The Championship team led in the 23rd minute when Ambrose volleyed in from Wilfried Zaha's cross.

The home side added their second seven minutes later when Williams' deflected 20-yard strike evaded Ali Al-Habsi.

Wigan midfielder Ben Watson scored a late 30-yard strike against his former club but Palace held on.

Zaha impressed, delivering assists for Palace's two first-half goals while Glenn Murray also shone, co-ordinating many of the home team's most impressive attacks and 17-year-old Williams looks a brilliant find by the club.

Both teams had started with a 4-2-3-1 formation and it was the visitors who made the better start. Wigan, despite making seven changes, were fluent going foward and Dave Jones came close for them early on.

Ambrose had a 25-yard free-kick well-saved by Al-Habsi but Wigan reasserted themselves when Jones fired his own set-piece just wide.

Palace's Murray rattled Roberto Martinez's men by striking the crossbar from a tight angle and, soon afterwards, the home team were ahead as Ambrose finished from seven yards following Zaha's cross.

Ambrose forced another save from Al-Habsi as the Palace pressure continued and they went further in front when Williams struck from another Zaha delivery.

JONATHAN WILLIAMS FACTFILE

  • Born on 9 October 1993
  • Product of Palace's academy
  • Named in Wales Under-21 squad aged 16
  • Signed first pro contract in April 2010
  • Makes debut against Coventry on 14 August 2011

The impressive Ambrose then sent in a corner that was met by Paddy McCarthy's header, which was cleared off the line. Murray then came agonisingly close with a looping header as Palace finished the half strongly.

After the break, Jones blazed over for Wigan but they struggled to get back into the game during a low-key start to the second half. Some threat was finally injected into the visitors' play though after the hour-mark as James McCarthy came close with a hit from distance.

Wigan upped the tempo and were frustrated again on 83 minutes when Patrick Van Aanholt's shot from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar. They then pulled back a consolation when Watson - who received a warm reception from Palace's fans earlier - scored with a powerful drive.

Palace held on in the closing stages despite the late pressure and Dougie Freedman's men now face Middlesbrough in the third round.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Crystal Palace

  • 34 Price
  • 03 Wright
  • 05 McCarthy
  • 21 Moxey
  • 37 Tunchev
  • 38 Ramage (Marrow - 72' Booked )
  • 07 Ambrose (Dorman - 84' )
  • 20 Williams (Jedinak - 75' )
  • 28 O'Keefe
  • 16 Zaha
  • 17 Murray

Substitutes

  • 01 Speroni
  • 12 Marrow
  • 15 Jedinak
  • 29 Dorman
  • 09 Iversen
  • 19 Easter
  • 31 Andrew

Wigan

  • 26 Al Habsi
  • 22 Van Aanholt
  • 24 Lopez
  • 31 Figueroa
  • 04 McCarthy
  • 06 Thomas (Watson - 66' )
  • 07 Crusat (McManaman - 66' )
  • 10 Maloney
  • 16 McArthur (Dicko - 86' )
  • 19 Jones
  • 18 Sammon

Substitutes

  • 12 Pollitt
  • 08 Watson
  • 11 Moses
  • 14 Gomez
  • 21 Diame
  • 30 Dicko
  • 15 McManaman
Ref: Stroud
Att: 7,649

Match Stats

Shots

11 11

On target

8 4

Corners

8 10

Fouls

13 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:26 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:02

The referee blows for offside against Mile Jedinak. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Watson.

90:00 +2:41

Corner taken short by Glenn Murray.

90:00 +1:48 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Watson - C Palace 2 - 1 Wigan Ben Watson finds the back of the net with a goal from outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crystal Palace 2-1 Wigan.

90:00 +1:42

A cross is delivered by Patrick Van Aanholt, Lewis Price makes a save.

90:00 +0:55

Glenn Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Maynor Figueroa. Direct free kick taken by Maynor Figueroa.

87:43

David Jones takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Aleksandar Tunchev makes a clearance.

87:29

The ball is crossed by Callum McManaman, save made by Lewis Price.

86:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Stuart O'Keefe on David Jones. Direct free kick taken by Ben Watson.

85:42

Alex Marrow fouled by Shaun Maloney, the ref awards a free kick. Lewis Price restarts play with the free kick.

85:42 Substitution

Substitution Nouha Dicko on for James McArthur.

83:49

Patrick Van Aanholt takes a shot.

83:09

Shaun Maloney takes a short corner.

83:09 Substitution

Substitution Andy Dorman is brought on as a substitute for Darren Ambrose.

82:58

Callum McManaman produces a cross, Alex Marrow makes a clearance.

81:37

Corner taken right-footed by Darren Ambrose, Maynor Figueroa manages to make a clearance.

81:03

James McArthur crosses the ball, Shaun Maloney takes a shot. Lewis Price makes a save.

79:54

Stuart O'Keefe challenges James McArthur unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adrian Lopez.

78:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Wright on Conor Sammon. Shaun Maloney produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

77:47

James McCarthy takes a shot. Save by Lewis Price.

76:18

Foul by Alex Marrow on Shaun Maloney, free kick awarded. Ben Watson takes the free kick.

76:18 Booking

Booking The referee books Alex Marrow for unsporting behaviour.

74:07

Callum McManaman fouled by Stuart O'Keefe, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Van Aanholt.

74:07 Substitution

Substitution Mile Jedinak comes on in place of Jonathan Williams.

72:44

James McCarthy crosses the ball.

71:43

Unfair challenge on Callum McManaman by Stuart O'Keefe results in a free kick. Callum McManaman restarts play with the free kick. Jonathan Williams fouled by Callum McManaman, the ref awards a free kick. Alex Marrow takes the direct free kick.

71:01

Inswinging corner taken by Darren Ambrose from the left by-line, Conor Sammon makes a clearance.

71:01 Substitution

Substitution Alex Marrow on for Peter Ramage.

67:51

Inswinging corner taken by Shaun Maloney from the left by-line, James McCarthy has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

67:28

Short corner taken by Shaun Maloney from the right by-line, Ben Watson delivers the ball, Patrick McCarthy manages to make a clearance.

67:13

David Jones takes a shot. David Wright gets a block in.

67:03

Centre by Callum McManaman, Patrick McCarthy makes a clearance.

65:01 Substitution

Substitution Callum McManaman comes on in place of Albert Crusat.

65:01 Substitution

Substitution Ben Watson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Hendry Thomas.

64:32

Shaun Maloney decides to take the corner short, The ball is sent over by James McCarthy.

63:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Albert Crusat by David Wright. Free kick taken by Hendry Thomas.

57:41

Unfair challenge on Wilfried Zaha by James McCarthy results in a free kick. Lewis Price takes the direct free kick.

56:21

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Glenn Murray.

55:05

The official flags Glenn Murray offside. Maynor Figueroa restarts play with the free kick.

54:47

Corner taken by Darren Ambrose.

54:02

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Darren Ambrose, Patrick McCarthy takes a shot. Blocked by Adrian Lopez.

53:26

Foul by Maynor Figueroa on Glenn Murray, free kick awarded. Darren Ambrose restarts play with the free kick.

52:31

Patrick Van Aanholt crosses the ball.

51:48

The assistant referee signals for offside against Wilfried Zaha. Ali Al Habsi restarts play with the free kick.

49:19

David Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Williams. Free kick taken by David Wright.

48:43

Patrick Van Aanholt crosses the ball, Shot on goal by David Jones from just inside the area goes over the target.

47:52

Patrick Van Aanholt crosses the ball, David Wright manages to make a clearance.

46:11

Glenn Murray delivers the ball, Maynor Figueroa makes a clearance.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:18 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:24

A cross is delivered by Darren Ambrose, Glenn Murray takes a shot. Ali Al Habsi makes a save.

43:55

The ball is delivered by Peter Ramage, Glenn Murray has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

43:21

The ball is crossed by Darren Ambrose, clearance by James McArthur.

42:42

Darren Ambrose takes the outswinging corner, James McCarthy manages to make a clearance.

42:07

Inswinging corner taken by Darren Ambrose, Patrick McCarthy takes a shot. Blocked by Conor Sammon.

41:03

David Jones takes a short corner.

40:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adrian Lopez by Glenn Murray. Hendry Thomas takes the free kick.

39:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James McArthur by Jonathan Williams. Direct free kick taken by Maynor Figueroa.

38:14

Unfair challenge on Jonathan Williams by Hendry Thomas results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Darren Ambrose from the free kick.

36:28

James McCarthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wilfried Zaha. Lewis Price restarts play with the free kick.

35:25

The ball is sent over by James McCarthy, clearance by Patrick McCarthy.

34:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Ramage on James McArthur. Free kick taken by James McArthur.

34:00

Darren Ambrose takes a shot. Blocked by Hendry Thomas.

33:24

Unfair challenge on Jonathan Williams by James McArthur results in a free kick. Patrick McCarthy restarts play with the free kick.

31:21

The ball is delivered by Patrick Van Aanholt.

29:53 Goal scored

Goal - Jonathan Williams - C Palace 2 - 0 Wigan Jonathan Williams scores a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Crystal Palace 2-0 Wigan.

29:41

Centre by Wilfried Zaha, clearance made by Maynor Figueroa.

28:51

A cross is delivered by Patrick Van Aanholt, Conor Sammon takes a shot.

25:55

James McCarthy delivers the ball.

25:02

Darren Ambrose takes a shot. Save by Ali Al Habsi.

23:56

Assist on the goal came from Wilfried Zaha.

23:56 Goal scored

Goal - Darren Ambrose - C Palace 1 - 0 Wigan Darren Ambrose scores a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Crystal Palace 1-0 Wigan.

22:25

Glenn Murray takes a shot.

21:58

Hendry Thomas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wilfried Zaha. Patrick McCarthy takes the free kick.

21:18

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Shaun Maloney.

18:04

Shaun Maloney fouled by Stuart O'Keefe, the ref awards a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from David Jones from the free kick.

15:31

Unfair challenge on Glenn Murray by Adrian Lopez results in a free kick. Patrick McCarthy restarts play with the free kick.

13:04

Albert Crusat gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wilfried Zaha. Free kick taken by Lewis Price.

12:56

A cross is delivered by Albert Crusat, clearance made by David Wright.

11:46

Corner taken by David Jones, clearance made by Dean Moxey.

8:48

Shaun Maloney decides to take the corner short.

6:39

The assistant referee signals for offside against Glenn Murray. Ali Al Habsi restarts play with the free kick.

5:37

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Darren Ambrose.

4:34

Maynor Figueroa challenges Glenn Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Darren Ambrose shoots direct from the free kick, Ali Al Habsi makes a save.

2:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Ambrose on James McArthur. Direct free kick taken by James McArthur.

1:15

David Jones produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

1:03

A cross is delivered by James McArthur, save by Lewis Price.

0:26

The ball is sent over by Shaun Maloney, Patrick McCarthy manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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