Wigan vs Man Utd Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English FA Cup | Third Round
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THE FACTS
When is Wigan vs Man Utd on and what time does it start? Wigan vs Man Utd will take place on Monday 8th January, 2024 – 20:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Wigan vs Man Utd? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Wigan vs Man Utd on in the UK? BBC and ITV share the rights to FA Cup matches so it is worth checking their schedules for Wigan vs Man Utd
Where can I stream Wigan vs Man Utd in the UK? If televised on BBC, Wigan vs Man Utd can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. If televised on ITV, the match can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
WIGAN
The 2013 FA Cup winners head into the third round of the FA Cup with a chance to pull off another major upset and write another story into the history of this great competition. Wigan have reached this stage this season with a first round win over League One rivals Exeter City and then a defeat of National League outfit, York City.
Under the management of Shaun Maloney, The Latics have been able to move themselves into the middle-of-the-table after beginning the season with an eight-point deduction. However, Wigan’s relatively small squad has stunted their progress a little and they do remain a League One relegation battle, albeit very unlikely to get dragged into the bottom four.
MAN UTD
Quite frankly, it is a miracle that Manchester United are within touching distance of the top seven in the Premier League with a fair argument to be made this has been the worst of the bad post-Sir Alex Ferguson seasons. They ended 2023 with a 2-1 defeat at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest, simply continuing their awful campaign.
The Red Devils have played 28 matches across all competitions this season but they have managed just 12 victories. Of those 12 wins, only two have been by more than one goal and of the remaining ten, several required very late winning goals or dramatic turnarounds – not necessarily emblematic of a team with any sustainable plan.
THE TEAM NEWS
WIGAN
Shaun Maloney will be without several defensive players for this week’s visit of Manchester United as the likes of Tom Pearce, Arsenal loanee Omar Rekik and Jason Kerr all remain unavailable for The Latics.
Key forward Steven Humphrys is a doubt for this week after he missed their 1-1 draw with Barnsley on New Year’s Day and Scott Smith may also still be unavailable as he also was missing from that match.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Tickle; Clare, Hughes, Morrison, Sessegnon; Shaw, Adeeko; Godo, Lang, Jones; Magennis
UNAVAILABLE: Kerr (Injured), Rekik (Injured), Pearce (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Smith (Injured), Humphrys (Injured)
MAN UTD
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Andre Onana will be involved in the clash this week with the Cameroonian international delaying his trip to the Africa Cup of Nations. The Dutch boss will remain without several first-teamers, though.
Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia are returning soon, whilst Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Victor Lindelof and Rasmus Hojlund all remain doubtful after missing recent matches. Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez returned to first-team training this week.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
UNAVAILABLE: Maguire (Injured), Mount (Injured), Malacia (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Martial (Injured), Lindelof (Injured), Hojlund (Illness)
QUESTIONABLE: Casemiro (Injured), Martinez (Injured), Sancho (Disciplinary)
THE PREDICTION
Wigan are a side that will seek to play the same way no matter the opponent and that may well just be their undoing. Whilst some in League One may be able to genuinely take the game to United, there will be a fear that a lack of experience and general fatigue costs the hosts with their shots against total in League One amongst the very worst. United have found a way to win a fair bit this season and that is genuinely the best that can be said of them so a fairly lacklustre away win at the DW would appear most likely.
TIP: MAN UTD TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
