Prediction: Wigan vs Manchester United

Verdict: Total away goals over 2.5

Best odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: BetUS

Monday evening’s FA Cup third-round clash at the DW Stadium promises an enticing encounter as League One side Wigan Athletic prepares to host the formidable English powerhouse Manchester United.

Wigan Athletic’s memorable FA Cup triumph in the 2012/13 season, notably defeating Manchester City in the final, remains a significant highlight for the club. Meanwhile, Manchester United boasts an impressive record in the competition, having secured the trophy on 12 occasions, with their most recent triumph occurring in 2015/16.

Wigan Athletic

Entering the highly anticipated fixture on Monday, Wigan heads into the match following a 1-1 draw against Barnsley in League One, where Jonathan Smith’s goal canceled out Devante Cole’s first-half effort, resulting in a shared outcome in South Yorkshire.

Currently positioned 17th in the League One table, Wigan have accumulated 27 points from 25 league games this season. Their campaign began with a deficit of eight points due to financial issues. After suffering relegation from the Championship last season, Shaun Maloney’s squad sits four points clear of the relegation zone in League One, yet they are 13 points adrift of the playoff spots. Consequently, their climb towards potential promotion will require significant effort in the latter part of the season.

In this FA Cup campaign, Wigan secured victories against Exeter City and York City. Their most recent encounter with Manchester United in the fourth round of this competition occurred in January 2017, resulting in a 4-0 defeat to the Red Devils. Notably, Wigan have experienced three 4-0 losses in their last four encounters with the 20-time English champions.

Wigan’s sole victory against Manchester United was a 1-0 win at home in the Premier League back in April 2012. However, considerable changes have transpired within both clubs since that time. Wigan notably clinched an FA Cup title in the 2012/13 season, securing a memorable 1-0 triumph over Manchester City in the final.

Team News

Wigan face the absence of Tom Pearce and Jason Kerr due to injury, while Stephen Humphrys and Scott Smith are uncertain to feature in the upcoming match.

Moreover, James Balagizi, who was on loan from Liverpool, will not be available as his loan spell concluded before the match.

Leading the attack for Wigan is likely to be Josh Magennis, who has notched five goals in the 2023/24 campaign. Additionally, the experienced Callum McManaman is expected to secure a place in a wide position for the team.

Manchester United

Manchester United have an illustrious history in the FA Cup, having secured the trophy 12 times. Only Arsenal, with 14 victories, have claimed it more frequently. Their most recent triumph occurred in 2016 when they defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 in the final.

Under Erik ten Hag’s guidance, United reached the final of the previous season’s competition but suffered defeat, losing 2-1 to Manchester City. Given their current situation, this tournament represents their primary opportunity to clinch silverware in the 2023/24 season.

Ahead of this match, Manchester United are coming off a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, marking their 14th defeat across all competitions this season. This setback has placed them in eighth position in the table, trailing nine points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

In the Champions League, Manchester United finished at the bottom of their group, contributing to a challenging campaign for the club. However, the recent confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a minority shareholder has reportedly boosted morale at Old Trafford. Ratcliffe’s visit to Carrington was met with admiration from both staff and players, with plans for his involvement in the football department pending Premier League ratification.

Following this fixture, Manchester United are scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur in a home game in the Premier League. The pressure is on Ten Hag to secure a positive result against Wigan, who hold the advantage of playing at home but operate two divisions below.

Team News

Manchester United will benefit from the availability of goalkeeper Andre Onana for this fixture and potentially for the upcoming league clash against Tottenham, as he won’t join up with Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations until later.

However, Sofyan Amrabat will be absent as he joins Morocco for the tournament.

The injury woes for Manchester United are set to improve in January, with the expected return of several key players. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Casemiro, and Anthony Martial are all anticipated to make their comebacks soon, with the majority potentially available for the Spurs game next weekend.

Rasmus Hojlund, who missed the previous match against Forest due to illness, is poised to return to the squad and is likely to lead the attacking line.

Manager Erik ten Hag is expected to field a strong lineup, with Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, and Bruno Fernandes likely to feature in advanced roles. Scott McTominay could also make a return to the midfield setup.

Conclusion

There may be two tiers separating these two teams, but United will surely be motivated to avoid any unpleasant surprise and clinch an important victory at the DW Stadium, in order to continue silverware pursuit for the season. An attacking approach by the Red Devils should also bring at least three goals for the away supporters to enjoy.

Ultimately, their quality should be too much for the home side to handle, which means Wigan’s FA Cup campaign should come to an end on Monday.

Verdict: Total away goals over 2.5

Best odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: BetUS