After missing out on a place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, a new opportunity awaits Exeter City as they host fellow League One side Wigan Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
St James Park witnessed a dramatic five-goal thriller between the Grecians and Middlesbrough last time out, while Wigan's good form of late was halted by a loss against Charlton Athletic on the same night.
Match preview
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Following their progression to the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 1989, Exeter were unable to book a first-ever spot in the quarter-finals of the competition as they lost 3-2 to Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough at St James Park on an atmospheric evening in Devon.
Midfielder Ryan Trevitt - who many associated with the Grecians have backed to have a huge future in football - bagged a sensational brace for the hosts on Tuesday night, but goals from Morgan Rodgers, Sammy Silvera and striker Emmanuel Latte Lath sealed a spot in the last eight for Boro.
Despite giving their Championship opposition a real scare last time out, Exeter have to face their reality as they prepare to welcome Wigan this weekend, with the Devonshire-based club currently winless in their last eight across all competitions, collecting just a single point in their last six League One contests.
Following the high-profile departures of Jevani Brown, Sam Nombe and Jay Stansfield earlier in the year, the Grecians have struggled massively to pose an attacking threat so far in 2023-24, scoring only 12 goals in 15 league matches, with first-choice strikers Admiral Muskwe and James Scott netting just two league goals between them.
The FA Cup is all about giant killings, and Exeter will be hoping to reach the third round in order to earn a tie with a Premier League side - Gary Caldwell's men recorded their first win over top-tier opposition since 1989 when they bested Luton Town in the third round of the EFL Cup in September.
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After winning successive League One fixtures against Exeter, high-flying Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town, Wigan produced a first-half horror show on Halloween which ultimately led to defeat against a Charlton side who recorded their first away win of the season at the DW Stadium.
A brace from Addicks attacker Alfie May and a Corey Blackett-Taylor strike had the visitors from London three goals ahead after just 43 minutes, and despite an improved second-period display which included consolations from Thelo Aasgaard and Stephen Humphrys, the Latics were condemned to their seventh loss of the League One term.
Shaun Maloney's men currently sit 19th in the third-tier standings as they possess 14 points after 15 matches, but considering that Wigan were handed an eight-point deduction at the start of the season for failing to pay player wages, the Lancashire club are performing like a side who should be in the playoff conversation.
Striker Charlie Wyke is set to be a key man in a potential FA Cup run for the Latics this season, with the former Sunderland forward finding the net on six occasions in 10 League One appearances so far this term, suggesting that the 30-year-old has the capability of matching his 25-goal third-tier campaign for the Black Cats in 2020-21.
It would be wrong to preview an FA Cup clash involving Wigan without mentioning the club's immortal moment in this competition during the 2012-13 season, when an 88th-minute Ben Watson winner in the final at Wembley against Manchester City sealed the Latics' only-ever major trophy.
Team News
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Exeter will be sweating over the fitness of wing-back Demetri Mitchell ahead of Saturday's match at St James Park, with the 26-year-old being replaced in the first period against Middlesbrough by Vincent Harper due to injury.
After suffering with illness over the past week, Zak Jules started in the EFL Cup defeat to Boro on Tuesday, and the Scotsman should be handed another start in Devon on the weekend.
Pierce Sweeney will return to the matchday squad for the Grecians after serving a one-match suspension for collecting five yellow cards, but the involvements of Reece Cole and Jack Aitchison are in doubt because of their respective injuries.
Wigan boss Maloney is set to make a number of changes from the side who heavily disappointed in the first half against Charlton, meaning Callum Lang and Liam Shaw will have to settle for places on the bench.
Scott Smith is likely to start in the engine room for the Latics alongside Babajide Adeeko, while in-form winger Martial Godo will return to the XI after grabbing two assists as a substitute against the Addicks.
Steven Sessegnon remains a doubt for Wigan after missing the defeat on Tuesday, with the former Fulham man starting all three of his side's most recent wins in League One.
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Sinisalo; Aimson, Fitzwater, Hartridge; Harper, Kite, Trevitt, Taylor, Jules; Scott, Wildschut
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Amos; Clare, Hughes, Morrison; Jones, Smith, Adeeko, Pearce, Aasgaard; Humphrys, Godo
We say: Exeter City 1-2 Wigan Athletic
After such an emotionally-draining evening against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, there are concerns over whether Exeter can find the strength required to break their winless run this weekend.
The Latics were much improved in the second half against Charlton, and we suspect Maloney's men will have enough attacking quality to secure their place in the second round on Saturday.
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