National League outfit York City welcome League One side Wigan Athletic to the LNER Community Stadium for a FA Cup second-round tie on Friday night.

While the Latics are competing in the second round for the third successive season, the Minstermen have progressed to this stage for the first time in 13 years.

Match preview

Solihull Moors manager Neal Ardley pictured in June 2022 © Reuters

After suffering elimination from the FA Cup first round in four of the last five seasons, York have successfully advanced to the second round this year after beating fellow non-league side Chester FC 2-1 in a replay just over two weeks ago.

York required a replay to edge past Needham Market by a 1-0 scoreline in the fourth qualifying round, and they also had a second bite at the cherry against Chester in the first round proper following a goalless draw in their first meeting.

Goals either side of half time from Lenell John-Lewis put York in control, before George Glendon pulled one back to set up a nervy finish. Nevertheless, Neal Ardley's men held on for the victory on home soil and they are one of 10 non-league teams to reach the second round this season.

After narrowly avoiding relegation from the National League last season, York are once again hovering just above the drop zone this term, sitting 19th after 22 games, although eight points accumulated in their last five matches – including a point in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Maidenhead United – has helped them to climb the table in recent weeks.

The Minstermen will briefly shift their attention to the FA Cup on Friday for arguably their biggest game of the season versus a Wigan side whom they have suffered defeat against in both of their previous two meetings in the competition – losing 1-0 in the first round in 1977-78 and 2-1 in the second round in 1997-98.

Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney before the match on March 11, 2023 © Reuters

Wigan head into Friday's contest in buoyant mood as they have won eight, drawn two and lost only one of their last 11 matches across all competitions, scoring 20 goals in the process.

Since losing 3-2 at home to Charlton Athletic in League One on Halloween, the Latics have put together a six-game unbeaten run, which began with a 2-0 away victory over Exeter City in the first round of the FA Cup in early November.

Shaun Maloney's men cruised to a 3-0 home win over Fleetwood Town last weekend courtesy of strikes from Jordan Jones and Tom Pearce either side of an own goal from Jay Lynch, and they have subsequently climbed to 14th in the League One table – the Latics would have been sitting in ninth spot had they not been deducted eight points for financial irregularities earlier this season.

Since famously winning the FA Cup in the 2012-13 campaign, Wigan have progressed from the second round in eight of the last 10 seasons, and they will certainly fancy their chances of avoiding a cup upset on Friday, as they have advanced from 79% of their FA Cup ties against non-league opposition, winning 15 games out of 19.

A 3-2 first-round loss at home to Chorley in 2020-21 was the last time that a non-league team got the better of Wigan in the FA Cup, and Maloney's side are now gearing up for their first meeting with York since 1999-2000 when they won both legs of a first-round tie in the League Cup, winning 1-0 on the road and 2-1 on home soil.

York City FA Cup form:

York City form (all competitions):

Wigan Athletic FA Cup form:

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

Team News

Wigan Athletic's Sam Tickle in action on August 8, 2023 © Reuters

York striker Dipo Akinyemi, who is the club's top scorer this season with eight goals, missed last weekend's draw with Maidenhead due to injury and it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to feature against Wigan.

The Minstermen have appealed Alex Woodyard's 'harsh' red card received against Maidenhead according to Ardley, but should the appeal prove unsuccessful, the midfielder will be suspended for Friday's contest.

Luke Daley made his debut last time out after joining on loan from Huddersfield Town a week ago, and the left-back will hope to keep his place in the first XI ahead of Thierry Latty-Fairweather, while experienced goalkeeper David Stockdale – who started both FA Cup ties against Chester – could return between the sticks at expense of George Sykes-Kenworthy.

As for Wigan, Bayern Munich loanee Liam Morrison is ruled out until mid-December after sustaining a thigh injury with Scotland Under-21s during the international break earlier this month.

Jason Kerr (metatarsal) and Thelo Aasgaard (ankle) are also sidelined, but the Latics have been boosted by the return of Sean Clare in the last two games, and the right-back could keep his place in the starting lineup on Friday.

Maloney may consider making a few changes to freshen up his side, though, with the likes of Ben Amos, Liam Shaw, Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis all pushing to start.

York City possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Fallowfield, Cordner, Howe, Daley; Green, Burgess, Dyson; Davies, John-Lewis, Kouhyar

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Amos; Clare, Rekik, Watts, Pearce; M. Smith, Shaw; Godo, Lang, McManaman; Magennis

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We say: York City 1-3 Wigan Athletic

York will need to be clinical when presented with chances in the final third and show their resilience at the back if they wish to pull off an upset and excite the home crowd for Friday's televised fixture.

However, success against an in-form Wigan outfit could prove challenging and the visitors should ultimately have the edge in all departments, even if a few star names are rested, to come out on top.

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