North End’s only relative success so far this season has come in the League Cup thanks to victories over League Two sides Stockport County and Bradford City. However, if North End are to progress in the competition, they will have to overcome a sterner test as Wednesday night see’s Darren Ferguson’s side make the short trip to the DW Stadium to take on Premier League Wigan.
As well as booking their place in the 4th round, a win for North End would, perhaps more importantly, provide a much needed injection of confidence into the team.
Wigan themselves have endured a poor start to the campaign having conceded 10 goals in as little as their first two games and only scoring twice in the league since then. Accordingly, the Latics have just one league win to their name, much like Preston. Both sides, then, will see this tie as a way to kick start their season.
Previous Meetings
The last competitive meetings between these two sides came back in the 2004/2005 season where North End could only muster a point from the two games. That solitary point came from a 1-1 draw at Deepdale when Lee McCulloch opened the scoring on 24 minutes back on 30th April 2005 before Brian O’Neill levelled just before half-time.
The trip to, what was then, the JJB Stadium that season ended in an embarrassing 5-0 defeat for North End, a result that the Preston faithful will not want to be reminded of.
The last time North End beat Wigan was way back during the 1999/2000 season. A 1-0 win for North End at the JJB Stadium all-but sealed promotion to the Championship for North End thanks to a Michael Jackson goal.
Team News
Darren Ferguson faces a selection headache prior to the trip to Wigan with a number of first team regulars raising doubts over their fitness. Adam Barton (groin), Callum Davidson (calf), Keith Treacy (groin) and Paul Coutts (groin) will all face a race against time to be fit for the trip to Wigan.
North End will not be able to call on Iain Hume either as the Canadian international is cup-tied having already appeared for Barnsley. Josh King and Matt James are still out but Paul Coutts may return.
For the home side, on loan Manchester United starlet Tom Cleverley has been made unavailable by Sir Alex Ferguson.