Wigan Athletic handed real Lancashire hotpot in the third round of the FA Cup
Wigan Athletic have been paired with north-west neighbours Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup at the beginning of 2026.
Latics’ reward for beating League Two strugglers Barrow on penalties at the weekend is a short trip up to Deepdale.
It’s a swift return to Preston for Latics head coach Ryan Lowe, who vacated the Deepdale hotseat one game into last season.
Lowe going back to his former stomping ground is not the only intriguing subplot attached to the tie.
Latics legends Mike Pollitt – who won the competition with Roberto Martinez’s Class of 2013 – and Andy Liddell are on the North End backroom staff, filling the positions of goalkeeping coach and fitness chief respectively.
First-team coach Peter Murphy also took up his present role after leaving a similar post at Wigan.
On the field, Latics could face their one-time golden boot winner Will Keane, while Academy product Alfie Devine is impressing during his season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The tie will be played on the weekend of January 10-11, with Latics’ scheduled League One fixture at home against Plymouth Argyle will have to be moved.
Ticket details will be confirmed in due course.
Full draw:
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town, Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa, Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town, Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic, Ipswich Town vs Blackpool, Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest, Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea, Manchester City vs Exeter City, West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford, Fulham vs Middlesbrough, Everton vs Sunderland, Liverpool vs Barnsley, Burnley vs Millwall, Norwich City vs Walsall, Portsmouth vs Arsenal, Derby County vs Leeds United, Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion, Salford City vs Swindon Town, Boreham Wood vs Brackley Town OR Burton Albion, Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare, Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United vs Bournemouth, MK Dons vs Oxford United, Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City, Cambridge United vs Birmingham City, Bristol City vs Watford, Stoke City vs Coventry City, Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace, Manchester United vs Brighton and Hove Albion, Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town.