Match Preview
Wigan Athletic vrs Fulham
F.A. Cup Fourth Round 24-25 at The Brick Community Stadium
Saturday 8th February 2025 KO: 15:00pm
Referee:
David Webb (Lancashire)
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Former Premier League foes vie for a spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, as Fulham and Wigan Athletic butt heads at the Brick Community Stadium.
Marco Silva's men made light work of Watford in a 4-1 third-round trouncing last time out in the competition, while the Latics conquered Mansfield Town by two goals to nil.
Still waiting for their first taste of FA Cup stardom, Fulham have often fallen victim to the fourth-round curse in the competition, being eliminated from the tournament at this exact stage in four of the last five seasons with the exception of a quarter-final appearance in 2023.
However, the Cottagers have a case to be considered dark horses for glory in this year's edition, where their opening third-round battle with Watford was a routine afternoon's work as Rodrigo Muniz, Raul Jimenez, Joachim Andersen and Timothy Castagne made the net bulge.
The aforementioned Muniz and Jimenez also combined for Fulham's latest high-profile Premier League scalp, cancelling out a Jacob Murphy opener in a 2-1 success away to EFL Cup finalists Newcastle United, thus solidifying their side's position in the top half of the table.
Firmly in contention to crack the continental places in the Premier League, a route to Europe is also available via the FA Cup for Fulham, who have lost just two of their 13 games in all competitions since the beginning of December and have developed an affinity for attacking excellence on away days.
Indeed, the Cottagers have netted at least two goals in each of their last five matches on the road and have not failed to score away from home since their opening 1-0 Premier League loss to Manchester United in August, registering in 13 such contests since.
Unlike their more esteemed hosts, Wigan do have an FA Cup trophy glistening in the cabinet from their momentous victory over Manchester City in the 2012-13 edition, but recent results in the tournament have been far more modest to say the least.
The Latics are bidding to reach the fifth round of the prestigious competition for the first time since the 2017-18 edition but have already flexed their muscles away from home in the competition, defeating all of Carlisle United, Cambridge United and Mansfield Town so far this term.
Shaun Maloney's men were indebted to a quickfire Thelo Aasgaard brace in a 2-0 win over the latter in round three, but they have blown hot and cold in League One since then, taking seven points from their last 15 on offer to languish in the bottom half of the table.
Wigan were on the cusp of edging out mid-table Lincoln City on February 1, only for James Collins to score a penalty rebound after Sam Tickle stopped his first attempt, meaning that only one of their last six matches at the Brick Community Stadium has ended in success.
Furthermore, the Latics' head-to-head record with Fulham makes for incredibly difficult reading for the home faithful, as Wigan have failed to win any of their last 19 matches against the Cottagers, who have never had a longer run without defeat against a single opponent in their history.
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This is the first ever FA Cup meeting between Wigan and Fulham. The Latics have won both of their previous cup games against the Cottagers, beating them in the League Cup in December 2002 and September 2003.
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Fulham are unbeaten in their last 19 meetings with Wigan in all competitions (W8 D11), their longest ever run without defeat against an opponent.
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Fulham have progressed from 14 of their last 16 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division, doing so in each of their last five in a row since a 2-1 home defeat to Oldham Athletic in January 2019.
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Although he didn’t register an assist, Fulham’s Andreas Pereira created nine chances in this season’s FA Cup third round against Watford, the second-most of any Premier League in the third round behind Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard against Man Utd (10).
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Wigan have lost their last three FA Cup games against Premier League opponents. Their last such win was against Manchester City in the 2017-18 fifth round, which was also the last time they reached that stage of the competition.
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Source Ben Knapton at SportsMole/BBCSports