Match preview: Wigan Athletic v Fleetwood Town

10 October 2023

Fleetwood Town travel to Wigan Athletic this evening for an EFL Trophy match at the DW Stadium, and we've got all you need to know ahead of the 7pm kick-off.

Fixture: Wigan Athletic v Fleetwood Town

Competition: EFL Trophy (Group Stage Game)

Date: Tuesday 10 October 2023

Kick-off: 7pm (BST)

Venue: 15 Loire Drive, Robin Park Rod, Wigan, WN5 0UH

WIGAN ATHLETIC

The Latics come into this on the back of a four game losing streak, and will be hoping to put things right on Tuesday night when Fleetwood Town are at the DW Stadium. Manager Shaun Maloney guided Wigan to a 7-1 home win over Leicester City's Under-21s in the first round of fixtures in this competition, and a win on home soil will help paper over the cracks after defeats away at Stevenage, Burton and Bristol Rovers, and a home defeat to Portsmouth at the end of September.

Following three wins from four in the league at the start of the 2023/24 season, it was looking bright for the Latics. Striker Charlie Wyke scored two in the opening day win at Derby County, and then one against Carlisle United, two at Bolton Wanderers and another at Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. Their talisman saw red at the weekend, but will be eligible for tonight's match if selected.

Wigan currently sit 18th in the Sky Bet League One table, but we all know what a good cup run can do for confidence and beleif within the squad. Will they turn things around? Find out as you can watch all the action unfold on iFollow for just £10 - Buy your iFollow pass HERE!

TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE MATCH

Lee Johnson's side are back on the road in midweek as they make the short trip to Wigan (7pm kick-off) with the aim of securing their place in the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy.

Town won their opening group game 2-0 against Tranmere Rovers thanks to a penalty from Jayden Stockley and a lovely strike by Phoenix Patterson from outside the box. After defeat on Saturday in the league, the manager has options to make changes, giving some players valuable minutes on the pitch.

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

Supporters from the Cod Army will be seated in the North Stand, with prices below as followed:

Adults: £10

Seniors: £5

Under-21s: £5

You can buy tickets on the day of the game from windows 1 and 2 at the Wigan Athletic Ticket Office. This option will CASH ONLY!

COACH INFORMATION

Coaches will be departing Highbury at 4:30pm, costing only £10 for Onward Card Holders and £15 for non-Onward Card Holders. Make sure to book soon to avoid missing out.

If you would like to purchase your tickets for the game in person, you can visit the club shop before 3:30pm on the day of the game, or you can call them up on 01253 775080.

IFOLLOW VIDEO MATCH PASSES AVAILABLE FOR ALL SUPPORTERS

Fleetwood Town take on Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy, and you can keep up to date with the match on the Club’s iFollow with a Video Match Pass for just £10.

For Town's cup clash against the Latics, there will be two matchday packages available for our UK-based and overseas supporters:

Audio Match Pass - £2.50

Video Match Pass - £10.00 (available for all)

Those who choose the Audio Match Pass option will get access to just the commentary, which will be provided by our partners, BBC Radio Lancashire, with the Video Match Pass including commentary and a full live stream for the whole game.

Season passes are available with audio passes for only £45 for the season, for all UK-based members of the Cod Army! You can find more details by heading over to our iFollow page.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Six goal thriller ends with Wigan taking the extra point after penalties

10 October 2023

Fleetwood Town played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Wigan Athletic in the EFL Trophy Northern Group D, with the home side taking the extra point after the penalty shootout went to sudden death in Lancashire.

Three second-half goals from the home side – scored by Stephen Humphrys, Josh Stones, and Tom Pearce, cancelled out Kabongo Tshimanga’s first-half brace, but that wasn’t it for the action as Josh Earl scored late on to take the tie to penalties, which Wigan won on the night.

The deadlock somehow wasn’t broken early on, after the Cod Army hit the woodwork twice in quick succession. First Scott Robertson cannoned a sweet strike onto the crossbar from the edge of the area, before Kabongo Tshimanga struck the rebound onto the post from a wide angle.

At the other end, an unmarked Humphrys squandered a great opportunity to open the scoring, after failing to connect properly with a wicked Jordan Jones cross at the back post.

Aside from that chance, the first half was dominated by Fleetwood, and the Cod Army finally got their reward with a quick-fire double from Tshimanga just before the interval. The first, saw Danny Mayor deliver an excellent corner into the box, with Connor Teale’s initial header clawed away by Amos before Tshimanga headed the rebound into an empty net.

The striker pounced again just a matter of minutes later when Ryan Broom’s long-range effort was parried into Tshimanga’s path, who arrived on cue to fire in his second of the night and put the Cods in full control heading into half-time.

In search of a route back into the tie, the Latics made a triple substitution at half-time, and minutes later they were back in the game. Stephen Humphrys cut inside from a wide position, before curling a low strike past Lynch to half the deficit.

Spurred on by their goal, Wigan then continued to push, and with an hour left to play, they found the equaliser. Humphrys was again involved, this time playing a defence-splitting pass-through midfield to Stones, who slotted the ball past Lynch to draw the scores level.

With all three points now up for grabs, Lee Johnson’s side almost found an instant response, when a slick Fleetwood move saw Ryan Graydon pull the ball back to Stockley, who rattled the inside of the post from close range.

Buoyed by their two-goal turnaround, Wigan controlled the latter stages of the game and thought they’d won it when Pearce’s powerful free-kick ripped through a crowded penalty area, and past substitute goalkeeper Tom Donaghy in the 87th minute.

But there was still time for more late drama, as Earl arrived in the box to flick Mayor’s corner past Amos in added time, to take the game to penalties. This meant both sides earned a point for the result over 90 minutes, and a shootout would decide who earned an additional point in the group standings.

Heroics from substitute goalkeeper Donaghy saw him stop both Lang and Pearce from the spot, but misses from Mayor, Xavier Simons and Broom meant the extra point would stay at the DW.

Wigan Athletic XI: Amos (GK) (Tickle 46’), Watts (Pearce 46’), Sessegnon, Hughes, Clare, Wyke (Stones 46’), Humphrys (Sze 83’), Jones (McManaman 75’), Lang (C), Smith, Balagizi.

Subs not used: Rekik, McHugh.

Town XI: Lynch (GK), (Donaghy 71’) Robertson, Tshimanga, Stockley (C) (Omochere 75’), Mayor, Simons, Holgate, Graydon (Marriott 75’), Teale, Rooney (Broom 34’) Earl.

Subs not used: Nsiala, Patterson, Armstrong.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Pick up your tickets now for the Wigan match in midweek

9 October 2023

Fleetwood Town are set to face Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening at the DW Stadium in the second round of fixtures in the EFL Trophy, and you can be there for as little as £5.