Wigan Athletic make the short trip across Lancashire this Friday with over 3,000 away supporters behind them as they gear up for a tough Emirates FA Cup Third Round clash with Preston North End at Deepdale. The Latics will be looking to upset their Championship hosts and book their place in the Fourth Round of England’s oldest cup competition, while Preston aim to use home advantage to fuel a cup run that could add some magic to their already brilliant season. With both teams desperate to start the new year with a statement, this all-North West showdown promises to be a competitive and compelling night of FA Cup action.
Wigan Athletic: 15th in EFL League One
It’s a huge game for Wigan, in a tournament they have historically gone against the odds time and time again. They say in these sorts of games, form goes right out of the window, and in Wigan’s case that’s a good thing, as our form is nothing to get to excited about, with the Latics only picking up 4 points in their last five league outings, and yet again, tensions are at an all time high after a real battering in the Welsh Capital. This game gets even more intriguing when you remember It’s Ryan Lowe’s first outing versus Preston since resigning back in August 2024, and given the manner in which he left, you feel like the home fans aren’t going to make his 90 minutes in the dugout easy.
Preston North End: 4th in EFL Championship
Unexpected is the word to describe Preston’s season so far, after a quite frankly dreadful 24/25 campaign which saw them survive on the final day of the season, questions were raised about if Paul Heckingbottom was biting more than he could chew at PNE, but after a busy summer window, which saw some fantastic business with a mixture of free agents & loan deals being made, Preston are flying at this moment in time, and a playoff place come May is a huge possibility for the Lancashire outfit. On an even more positive, note Preston recently welcomed back Milutin Osmajic from his 9 match-ban and he’s already off to a fantastic return, Wigan HAVE to be on high alert for Preston’s no.9.
Head-to-Head Record
Wigan Wins: 15
Draws: 15
Preston Wins: 21
Predicted Lineup – Wigan
Injuries & Suspensions
Jason Kerr – Kneecap issue (May require surgery, but Lowe says he will be monitored closely over the coming weeks).
Baba Adeeko – Just as he returned to back into first team training he has suffered another big knock, as has required more surgery, very unfortunate for Baba.
Ryan Trevitt – Thigh injury.
Score Predictions
Our human score predictions are just for fun and based on personal opinions, recent form, and match context. They are not expert advice and should never be used for things like betting or making financial decisions. For more details, please visit our disclaimer.
Curtis’ Prediction: Preston North End 3-1 Wigan Athletic
💭“Wigan go into this FA Cup tie on the back of a 1–0 defeat to Cardiff City, but the result masked just how one-sided the contest was. With only 18% possession, Wigan were comprehensively outplayed, conceding 17 shots, 18 corners, and asking their goalkeeper to do the bulk of the work to keep the score respectable. It was a worrying performance, and one that leaves little room for optimism heading into a trip to an in-form Championship side.
Preston, by contrast, arrive buoyed by a 2–0 win away at Ashton Gate, and Paul Heckingbottom has them looking well drilled, aggressive and confident. There’s also likely to be a tense atmosphere at Deepdale: Ryan Lowe’s return will not be warmly received by the home support, while frustration is beginning to grow among the travelling Latics fans after a run of flat, uninspiring performances. That edge in the stands could spill onto the pitch, and if Wigan start slowly again, Preston have the quality to take control early and run away with it.”
Charlie’s Prediction: Preston North End 1-1 Wigan Athletic (Wigan to win on penalties)
💭”Wigan will have over 3,000 fans backing them on Friday & it’s going to be needed, with what I’m sure will be an impressive home atmosphere & very intimidating to the players & gaffer. We’ve edged the last two rounds on penalties & I think that might carry over into this one, and it could be our best possible way of reaching Round 4. I think we’ll be under immense pressure for the whole game, but hopefully Ryan Lowe’s decent understanding of the opposition will just keep us in it until penalties, and they are something we clearly practise regularly. “
Wigan Fan Predictions
Lee (Wigan fan) – 💭 “If this weather keeps up we might have a chance of a P-P draw.”
Logan (Wigan fan) – 💭 “I reckon we 1-1 but in extra time Christian Saydee scores and we win, but we need to play better than we was against Cardiff or we don’t really have a chance.”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Predictions
Artificial Intelligence (AI) predictions use data and algorithms to forecast football match outcomes based on team form, stats, and other relevant factors. While we aim for these predictions to be as accurate as possible, they are not guaranteed and should not be relied upon to make decisions, including betting. For more information, please refer to our disclaimer.
ChatGPT: Preston North End 1–0 Wigan Athletic
💭 “I’m going for a narrow 1–0 win for Preston. They come into the game in better form and look more settled defensively, especially at Deepdale, while Wigan’s recent performances suggest they may struggle to create enough clear chances. In a tight, tense FA Cup derby, it feels like it could be decided by a single moment rather than a high-scoring affair.”
Grok: Preston North End 2-0 Wigan Athletic
💭 “Preston are in excellent form with back-to-back clean-sheet wins to start 2026, sitting in the Championship playoff spots (around 4th-5th place with about 43 points from 26 games), while Wigan’s recent League One results (1-1 draw vs. Barnsley and 1-0 loss at Cardiff) highlight their inconsistency, making a comfortable home win for the higher-division side likely in this FA Cup tie.”
Gemini: Preston North End 2-0 Wigan Athletic
💭 “I predict a 2–0 victory for Preston North End, as their superior Championship form and Paul Heckingbottom’s tactical setup should prove too strong for a Wigan side that has struggled for goals away from home. While the return of former PNE boss Ryan Lowe to Deepdale adds a layer of drama, Preston’s defensive solidity and historical home dominance over the Latics make them heavy favorites to progress.”
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