DAVID Flitcroft says he went to Wigan with the intention of putting down a marker.

And there can be no clearer signal of Bury’s rise in stature than their name in the second-round draw of the Capital One Cup.

A second-half double from summer signing Leon Clarke dumped his former side out of the competition.

Will Grigg put the Latics in front with a penalty almost immediately after the restart but Clarke headed home an equaliser just after the hour mark and sent 1,400 travelling fans into raptures with a coolly-taken winner from the spot in the 89th minute.

The outcome was in stark contrast to the Shakers’ first-round exit at Bolton last season, when they were cruelly denied victory by a 96th-minute Craig Davies penalty before their near neighbours went on to clinch victory in extra time.

“My thoughts were turning towards the Bolton game, how we just missed out. That was redemption for me,” said Flitcroft.

The two cup ties underline the progress Bury have made.

They were grimly hanging on to a 1-0 lead at the Macron before the referee and Davies intervened.

Bury never panicked at Wigan, despite having to come from behind, and always looked the most likely to score in the closing stages.

“I think there is a bit more quality in there (than the side that lost at Bolton),” said the Shakers boss.

“I didn’t feel in trouble. I didn’t feel under threat.

“The penalty went in and it was a disappointment, but after that the back four defended brilliantly.”

The home side had the upper hand in the first half, creating a number of half-chances while looking much brighter in possession.

Joe Riley had to use his body to block an early effort from Wigan wide-man Michael Jacobs, who also fired a shot wide in the 25th minute.

Grigg almost embarrassed the Bury defence, drifting in between onrushing keeper Christian Walton and left-back Chris Hussey to control a long ball before hooking his effort wide.

And Jordan Flores had the home crowd on their feet with a jinking run into the box before forcing Walton into a smart save.

But Bury ended the half with a warning as Leon Clarke powered home a slide-rule pass from Danny Mayor, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Flitcroft changed shape at half-time, putting Tom Pope on for Mayor to go two up front.

But Bury quickly fell behind after Peter Clarke was penalised for a clumsy challenge on Jacobs in the box just 15 seconds after the restart and Grigg buried the resulting spot-kick.

Jacob Mellis replaced Hope shortly after the Wigan opener and after also urging his wide-men to sling more balls into the box, Flitcroft's changes paid dividend.

Clarke converted Bury’s first meaningful cross on 62 minutes, outmuscling marker Leon Barnett to loop a header into the top corner from a pinpoint Hussey delivery.

“I was delighted with the half-time clean sheet but for everything that we talked about I might as well have not gone in at half-time. Credit to them, though, it (the Wigan goal) just galvanised us,” said Flitcroft.

“I said to the team at half-time that with Leon Clarke and Tom Pope on the pitch we had to get more crosses in. The first cross comes in and Leon scores from it.”

Pope should have claimed a second but the substitute struck a tame shot straight at Wigan stopper Richard O’Donnell.

Bury piled on the pressure, with Tutte shooting wide from the edge of the boxand Tom Soares having a stinging drive charged down.

Wigan sent on former Wanderers striker Davies to try to repeat his late, late show from last season. But as the clocked ticked down to extra time, it was the Shakers who clinched a deserved breakthrough from the spot.

There was no doubt about the decision after Wigan captain Craig Morgan hauled Pope to the floor in full view of referee Mark Heywood, and Clarke tucked his penalty into the bottom right corner.

“I wanted to put a marker down,”said Flitcroft, after beating their third-tier rivals.

“We have come to one of the super powers of League One, a team recruited to absolutely smash this league up, and we have gone toe-to-toe with them, so I’m delighted.”

WIGAN (4-3-3): O'Donnell; McNaughton, Barnett, Morgan, James; Perkins, Power, Flores; Odelusi (Jennings 70), Grigg (Davies 78), Jacobs. Not used: Nicholls, Daniels, McKay, Anson, Burke.

BURY (4-3-3): Walton 7; Riley 7, Cameron 8, P Clarke 6, Hussey 8; Soares 8, Etuhu 6 (Pugh 82 6), Tutte 7; Mayor 7 (Pope 46 7), L Clarke 9, Hope 6 (Mellis 54 7). Not used: Lainton, Sedgwick, Rose, Brown.

Scorers: Wigan – Grigg 46 pen. Bury – Clark 62 and 89 pen.

Yellow cards: Wigan - None. Bury – Hussey 83, L Clarke 90.

Referee: Mark Heywood Attendance: 5,484 (1,407 visiting).

Star man: Leon Clarke – Bury have scored three goals in two games so far this season and Clarke has scored them all. On Tuesday night the summer signing showed just how important he will be to the Shakers’ campaign after forcing them back into the game with a header he had no right to win. The fact he was able to out-muscle his way past his marker to get to Chris Hussey’s cross first showed how much he wanted it and that hunger for goals should propel him up the scoring charts in League One this season.