FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 11, 2025 at 6pm UK

One Call Stadium

Mansfield vs Wigan

Match preview

Mansfield are looking forward to their first third round appearance in three years after successfully navigating the first two rounds of this season's competition.

The Stags kicked off their cup campaign with a dominant 4-0 away win over non-league side Curzon Ashton, before edging out Stevenage 1-0 at the Lamex in November.

Nigel Clough's side will take plenty of momentum into the third-round tie having won four of their last five games, including back-to-back victories in their last two outings.

Mansfield eked out a narrow 2-1 win at home to Bolton Wanderers before repeating the scoreline away at Stockport County last Saturday, leaving them ninth in the table and four points adrift of the League One play-off places.

The Stags will be looking to continue their good form by beating Wigan for the second time this season, following their 2-1 victory at the DW Stadium in October.

In contrast to their hosts, Wigan will be coming into the weekend off the back of two poor results against two promotion contenders.

The Latics ended 2024 with a narrow 2-1 away defeat to Wrexham, before suffering a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Birmingham City last Saturday.

The two defeats have left Shaun Maloney's side 17th in the table, with seven points separating them from the bottom four.

Wigan, meanwhile, will put their underwhelming league campaign on hold to concentrate on their FA Cup campaign, with the Latics progressing to the third round after extra-time victories over Carlisle United and Cambridge United.

The visitors will be looking to avoid a third successive exit at this stage of the competition, having lost to Luton Town and Manchester United in their last two third-round ties.

Recent Performance

Mansfield Town FA Cup form:WW

Mansfield Town form (all competitions):DWWLWW

Wigan Athletic FA Cup form:WW

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):LWDWLL

Team News

Mansfield defender Alfie Kilgour could be in line for a recall after coming on as a half-time substitute against Stockport.

Louis Reed is also pushing for a recall, with the 27-year-old competing with Hiram Boateng and Aaron Lewis for a place in the middle of the park.

Veteran striker Lee Gregory is in line for a third successive start after scoring in Mansfield's last two games.

The visitors will be without Tyrese Francois, Baba Adeeko, Matt Smith, Dion Rankine and Luke Chambers.

January signing Joseph Hungbo came off the bench to make his debut against Birmingham and could get his first start for the club in the FA Cup third round tie.

Striker Will Goodwin could be included in the matchday squad following his arrival on loan from Championship side Oxford United.

Possible starting lineup

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Bowery, Kilgour, Cargill; Hewitt, Boateng, Reed, Lewis, Blake-Tracy; Evans, Gregory

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Sibbick, Kerr, Aimson, Sessegnon; J. Smith, Weir, S.Smith, Aasgard, Hungbo; Taylor