With seven fifth round ties played and one going to replay, Wigan Athletic welcome Manchester City to the DW Stadium for the final tie in this round.
The last two FA Cup meetings between these teams saw the Latics claim shock cupsets, most notably in the 2013 final.
Team news
Wigan captain, Sam Morsy starts a two match ban here so won’t be featuring.
Devante Cole, James Vaughan and Donervon Daniels are all cup-tied, having featured for Fleetwood Town, Sunderland and Rochdale respectively in the cup this season.
Pep Guardiola could hand midfield trio; Fabian Delph, David Silva and Leroy Sane starts, following their returns from injury in Tuesday’s 4-0 away win at Basel.
Gabriel Jesus however is expected not to feature despite resuming training, after a knee injury kept him out since late December.
Form
Wigan have lost their last two matches, after a seven game unbeaten start to 2018, including two home wins over Premier League teams in this competition.
The Latics also boast Will Grigg, who is this season’s top scorer in the FA Cup.
Manchester City have suffered just one loss in 2018, away at Liverpool last month.
Goals wise, Wigan have netted 15 goals since this calendar year began and conceded eight in seven games across league and FA Cup.
City are Europe’s second best scorers of this season with 111 goals, but have conceded nine goals in last eight games across all competitions entering this clash.
Stat Attack
- There have been four FA Cup meetings between these teams with Man City winning first two before Wigan won last two.
- Excluding the 2013 final at Wembley, all past FA Cup meetings have been held at Man City’s ground and been won by one goal margins.
- The last meeting in this competition was first time that both teams scored in the match, after the previous three were 1-0 to winning side.
- Man City haven’t met Wigan at this stage of the competition before, with past meetings occurring in January (1971 & 2006), March (2014) or May (2013).
- In fact in 28 meetings across all competitions, this is the first February meeting between these teams.
Prediction
Man City will be super strong but Wigan will take hope from what Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale have done at home this weekend to top flight teams.
Ultimately I can see Man City winning this but by one less goal than I thought before watching the Rochdale game.
Prediction: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Manchester City
Result: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City