Wigan Athletic VS Manchester United Match Prediction

FA Cup - Wigan Athletic VS Manchester United
Match Time: 09-01-2024 04:15 Tuesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head-to-Head
These teams have faced each other on only two occasions since Wigan Athletic's relegation from the Premier League. As FA Cup champions, the Latics encountered Premier League titleholders Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley in August 2013, with the Red Devils emerging victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. The most recent encounter occurred in the FA Cup back in 2017, and this time Man United secured a convincing 4-0 win at Old Trafford.

Team Analysis
A decade ago, when Wigan Athletic clinched the FA Cup, they were still a Premier League outfit, although their top-flight status lasted only a few more days as a defeat from Arsenal condemned them to relegation. Presently, Wigan finds themselves just a few points above the relegation zone in League One, facing the possibility of successive relegations if results do not improve soon. Shaun Maloney, once highly regarded as a coach working under Roberto Martinez in the Belgium set-up, has faced setbacks in his managerial career, lasting only a few months at Hibernian. Now under pressure at Wigan Athletic, the Scottish manager could benefit from an epic FA Cup victory to enhance his approval rating.

The manager on the opposing side, Erik ten Hag, is also in dire need of a victory as he witnesses Manchester United struggle through a challenging season. Initially, the former Ajax boss seemed poised to restore the Old Trafford giants to former glories, lifting the League Cup and securing a top-four finish in his first season. However, ten Hag has already suffered 14 defeats this term, with the FA Cup representing his sole opportunity to salvage something from a disappointing campaign, given Manchester United's early exit from Europe and their significant lag in the Premier League. Following a recent 2-1 loss at Nottingham Forest, another defeat to lower-ranked Wigan Athletic could spell the end for the beleaguered Old Trafford manager.

Odds Analysis
Manchester United has managed to keep just one clean sheet in their last nine matches, and that occurred when they adopted a defensive approach at Anfield. In this upcoming match, they are likely to be on the offensive, making both teams to score (BTTS) a reasonable betting option. Wigan Athletic has also been conceding goals, so it might be worthwhile to back the struggling Red Devils to rediscover their scoring form.

Tip: Over 2.5 goals