Match Preview: Wigan Athletic (H)

23 February 2023

Preston North End will host local rivals Wigan Athletic at Deepdale this weekend, almost seven months on from the goalless draw between the two on the opening day of the Championship season.

Match Information
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Saturday 25^th February, 3pm kick-off
Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 33/46)
Kit: Home kit – available in-store and online!

Supporter Information

Tickets for this fixture will remain on sale right up until kick-off, with fans able to buy online from www.mypne.com, in person from the Deepdale ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966.

The fan zone, located by the Alan Kelly Town End car park, will be open to PNE supporters from 12 noon, with live music and a selection of food and drink available. Full details will be confirmed in our Matchday Information article, to be published later this week.

Supporters can use the matchday shuttle bus service to get to and from the ground on Saturday, with the bus starting at Leyland and going through Bamber Bridge on its way to Deepdale. Find full details regarding the service here.

How To Follow The Game

Supporters in the UK and Ireland can listen to this game live on iFollow PNE, with both audio match and monthly passes available to buy here.

Fans overseas also have the option of watching the match live, with £10 match passes available to purchase by clicking here.

There will also be the usual extensive match coverage across our social media channels and here on PNE.Com.

Matchday Programme

Defender Bambo Diaby is on the front cover of this weekend’s matchday programme!

The centre half, who came on as a half-time substitute in last weekend’s draw against Hull City, gives a featured interview as he discusses his season so far, life off the pitch and much more.

You can pick up a programme for £3.50 from around the ground on the day of the game, or order a copy to be delivered to your home by clicking here.

In The Dressing Room

PNE will be without Ched Evans as he serves the final game of his suspension, while Ben Whiteman still has two matches to go before he can return to action.

Andrew Hughes, who was forced off through injury in the first half against Hull City, will be assessed ahead of the weekend, but manager Ryan Lowe stressed he would not be rushed back.

North End will be missing Ali McCann, who is expected to be sidelined for the next eight to ten weeks with a thigh injury, as well as long-term absentee Emil Riis.

A Look At Our Visitors

Wigan Athletic will arrive at Deepdale this weekend sat at the base of the Championship table, but that doesn’t tell the full story.

Having gone nine games without a win under Kolo Toure, the Latics became rooted to the bottom, however since the arrival of former player Shaun Maloney as manager at the end of January, their form has certainly improved.

The ex-Belgium national team coach has made his new side far more difficult to break down, having conceded just once in their previous four outings, while also going unbeaten during that run, and he’ll be hoping their upturn in form continues as they look to avoid the drop.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 48
PNE wins: 20
Draws: 15
Wigan Athletic wins: 13
Last victory: Wigan Athletic 1-2 PNE, 8^th February 2020

One To Watch

Former Preston North End loanee Will Keane is unquestionably the biggest goal threat which Wigan possess.

Having netted 26 goals in League One last season, the Republic of Ireland international forward has reached double figures in the Championship this term for what is comfortably his best tally in the second tier to date.

The 30-year-old could be partnered up top by Ashley Fletcher or Danel Sinani this weekend, with the latter having joined on loan from Norwich City in January.

Match Officials

On Saturday, Preston North End will be refereed by Thomas Bramall for the second time this season.

Bramall last took charge of a North End fixture in August 2022, when Ryan Lowe’s side lost narrowly to Wolves in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

So far this season, Bramall has refereed 23 matches – including five Premier League games – and has shown 70 yellow cards and one red during that run.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 2 Wigan Athletic 1

25 February 2023

Preston North End came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic at Deepdale, with second-half goals from Daniel Johnson and Tom Cannon securing victory.

The Latics went into the half-time break a goal to the good courtesy of a Greg Cunningham own goal just before the half-hour mark.

PNE drew themselves level eight minutes into the second half thanks to a Johnson penalty, before Cannon then scored his first for the club just moments later to ultimately earn victory on home soil.

There were four changes to the North End side from last weekend’s draw against Hull City, with Bambo Diaby, Johnson, Liam Lindsay and Troy Parrott coming into the starting XI.

It was a relatively even start to the game, with few chances falling at either end in the early stages, but Cannon did have a good opportunity 22 minutes in, curling a 20-yard effort just wide of goal.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead five minutes later through a Cunningham own goal. Ryan Ledson was dispossessed in midfield before Tiehi made his way into the box and sent a low ball across the face of goal, and Cunningham – in trying to clear – inadvertently found the back of his own net.

Callum Lang twice tried to double his side’s lead before the break, firstly by sending a long-range effort towards goal, which was comfortably collected by Freddie Woodman, before another strike from outside the box landed just wide of the far post.

PNE then came out firing in the second half and were awarded a penalty just a few minutes in when Cannon found Johnson in the box, and he was brought down by goalkeeper Ben Amos as North End’s No.10 tried to square it for Troy Parrott. It looked as though DJ had picked up an injury in being brought down, but he stepped up to calmly slot home with his trademark routine.

Just four minutes later, North End found themselves in front as skipper Alan Browne sent a brilliant ball round the side for Cannon, who raced through on goal and expertly found the far corner to get off the mark for his loan side.

Woodman came up with a huge save on 73 minutes to ensure the visitors didn’t draw level, as he somehow managed to follow Danel Sinani’s powerful strike through a number of bodies and dive to his right to parry the effort away from goal.

Sinani tried his luck again in the final minute of normal time – sending a free-kick over the bar – before substitute Robbie Brady received a second yellow card and his marching orders in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, but it wasn't to influence the result as PNE secured a first league victory at Deepdale this calendar year.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Diaby, Lindsay, Cunningham (Bauer, 90+2); Potts, Ledson, Browne, Johnson (Brady, 80), Fernández; Cannon, Parrott (Storey, 90+6). Subs not used: Cornell, Woodburn, Onomah, Delap.

Wigan Athletic line-up: Amos; Hughes (Aasgaard, 80), Whatmough, Nyambe; Darikwa (Pearce, 64), Power, Tiehi, McClean (Caulker, 90+4); Keane (Sinani, 65), Lang, Fletcher. Subs not used: Jones, Naylor, Tilt.

Attendance: 17,842 (3,721 Wigan Athletic fans).

Referee: Mr T Bramall.

Ticket News

Buy Your Wigan Athletic Ticket

22 February 2023

Tickets remain on sale for this weekend's clash at Deepdale against local rivals Wigan Athletic.

Preston North End will host the Latics on Saturday 25th February, for a 3pm kick-off.

You can buy your tickets now in person from the ticket office at Deepdale, by calling 0344 856 1966, or simply click here to purchase online.

Please note, the Bill Shankly Kop will not be open to PNE supporters for this match.

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