Wigan Athletic vs. Southampton (FA Cup): Saints look to book Wembley date
Southampton will take a welcome break from their Premier League battle for survival this weekend with a trip north to face Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Wigan will be new manager Mark Hughes’ first game in charge of the Saints after he replaced Mauricio Pellegrino. The Argentine parted company with the club after a run of just one win in 17 Premier League games.
Suprisingly Wigan and Southampton have only met three times, two of the three fixtures were played during the 2012/13 Premier League season, when both teams were in the division.
The Latics claimed four points from the meetings with Saints during that campaign, winning 2-0 at St Mary’s before drawing 2-2 in the reverse fixture. The clubs also met in the early rounds of the 1986 FA Cup, Southampton were comfortable 3-0 winners on that occasion.
Why Southampton will win:
This game will come too early for new manager Mark Hughes to make any wholesale changes, what can be expected, is that he will install a bit more fight and determination into a Saints side which has underperformed massively.
While the Saints have been underwhelming and rather goal shy, I am expecting Hughes to try and free the wealth of attacking talent in his squad from the chains that seem to have been put on them by predecessor Mauricio Pellegrino.
One of those players has been Manolo Gabbiadini, with Hughes now in charge on the south coast, could we see a change in personnel? In recent weeks the Italians continued exclusion has been baffling. Im tipping the Italian to get a start under the new boss.
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The FA Cup has been Southampton’s saving grace this season. They have done well to get past a strong Fulham side as well as Premier League Watford and West Brom.
You would argue these teams offer a greater threat than Wigan, but the FA Cup is full of surprises and that why we love it.
Why Wigan will win:
Wigan haven’t lost at the DW in the FA Cup for seven years, this year has been no different as the stadium has become the graveyard of the competition.
Bournemouth, West Ham and run away Premier League leaders Manchester City have all been put to the sword. So it is no fluke that Wigan are the only team outside of the top flight still in the competition.
This could easily be another upset and would be much less of a shock than the Latics’ win against City. Southampton sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone in 17th after winning only five matches all season under Mauricio Pellegrino.
Wigan may be the lowest ranked side left in the competition but they are on course for promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt, despite a recent stutter in their league form.
Based on expected goals – they boast the best attack and defence in League One having kept a total of 19 clean sheets. This will be a big worry for a Saints side which has struggled to find the net all season. Scoring on average, less than a goal a game away from home. The south coast outfit have also failed to find the net in their two previous fixtures against relegation rivals Stoke City and Newcastle United.
However with new manager Mark Hughes at the helm we could see a very different Southampton side as they look to impress the new boss.
Predicted line-ups
Southampton
Goalkeeper: McCarthy
Defenders: Cedric Stephens Hoedt Bertrand
Midfielders: Lemina Romeu Ward-Prowse Tadic Boufal
Striker: Gabbiadini
Wigan
Goalkeeper: Walton
Defenders: Byrne Dunkley Burn James
Midfielders: Morsy Power Massey Powell Jacobs
Striker: Grigg
Prediction:
Wigan Athletic 0-1 Southampton