Preston vs Wigan Prediction & Betting Tips (9 January)

This is the 11th successive season that Preston are playing in the 2nd division, in the Championship, waiting for a credible project to move up. This Preston team started 2026 with a bang by recording two successes in a row for the reception of Sheffield Wed 3-0 and on the lawn of Bristol City last weekend 0-2. Before that, at the end of 2025, the Lilywhites recorded three championship days without a victory including a defeat at promoted Wrexham 2-1 following two draws against Stoke 0-0 and Norwich 1-1. In the standings, Preston occupies the top 4 of the Championship, 9 lengths behind the boss: Coventry.

Member of League One D3 but already in the Premier League, Wigan scared themselves very badly in the previous round by qualifying at the end of the penalty shootout against Barrow D4. In the wake of this victory in the 1/64th final of the FA Cup, Wigan have played six times in the league for a sad record of a victory against Burton away: 0-2 and three defeats, contracted on the road against Bradford City 2-1 and last weekend at Cardiff 1-0. There was also a home defeat against Blackpool 0-2. 

On the flank for several weeks now, Andrija Vukcevic, Robbie Brady, L.Gibson and Stefan Thordarson will probably be out of this FA Cup meeting. Somehow, these are not major absences since the team has gotten used to playing without them. The last two victories were also written without them. Lewis Dobbin (6 goals, 5 assists in the Championship), scorer in the two successes of 2026 will be present like the young midfielder Alfie Devine (5 goals, 2 assists), Daniel Jebbison (5 goals, 2 assists) or the Montenegrin international Osmajic (5 goals), suspended for several weeks but back in competition since. B.Adeeko, J.

Kerr, I.Mabaya, Jack Rogers and midfielder R.Trevitt, all injured. Suspended in the league for three matches, Matthew Smith (15 appearances in the league) will likely be available to the coach today. In the championship, on a personal level, Fraser Murray (4 goals, 2 assists) and Paul Mullin (4 goals) are doing the best but the latter missed the previous championship posters and could remain off the scoresheet today. 

• Summary: Preston North End is going head to head with Wigan Athletic starting on 9 Jan 2026 at 19:30 UTC . The match is a part of the FA Cup .
• Preston Feedinco Rating: 6.86
• Wigan Feedinco Rating: 6.81