The central defender, 24, popped up to head home Latics’ 110th-minute winner, much to the delight of home fans who see Sutton as ‘one of our own’.

Brabin had to take over press duties after manager Micky Mellon was sent off after a touchline altercation which also saw Wednesday’s Callum Slattery booked.

Brabin praised Sutton, who came through the club’s youth system, saying: “Will has been doing great this season, and I am delighted for him.”

Looking back on the match, Brabin said: “It was a proper cup tie and we are delighted to come out winners.

“When you look back on the match, I think we were deserved winners.

“We have been doing well recently and today reinforced that with a good performance and a good result.”

After an uneventful opening two thirds of the match, it suddenly exploded into life when Calum Kavanagh put Oldham ahead in the 66th minute with his sixth goal of the season.

Wrexham loanee and former Oldham forward Davis Keillor-Dunn equalised 10 minutes later with his fifth of the campaign before Sutton had the final word.

It was not the start Dave Challinor dreamt of from his first match as Owls manager.

He said: “I am really frustrated and disappointed not to have won.

“The first half was like a testimonial in being so slow – not like I want a team of mine to be.

“The second half was a whole lot better, but we conceded a goal during our best spell of the match.

“The substitutions changed the dynamics of the game – it would have been better if we had started that way.

“There is plenty of work to do – change won’t happen overnight but hopefully you saw some structure.”