Latics arrive for their at the moment bi annual visit following their promotion from League 1 for the second tme in three years. Since the FA Cup win over Man City in the final in 2013 they have managed to be relegated three times and promoted twice which considering they were still in receipt of a parachute payments for 4 years does show they have been a bit inept. The club are in the midst of being taken over by a Hong Kong syndicate or somebody in the Asia area, Chippy Dave is still in charge until the takeover and by the time that happens it is hoped he may have found some charisma. They have for once appointed a decent in Paul Cook and have Signed Championship players such as Joe Garner once of this parish. As with their previous season in League 1 Will Grigg bagged a lot of goals but still doubts remain whether he can do it at this level, here is a picture of Will when he was on fire. please log in to view this image The Pies have a decent record against us in recent meetings although last time we did beat them 1-0 in a televised shocker on Sky. Team news for us is included later however after Tuesday's epic one thing might have happened we seem to get a bit of luck especially with our penalty. There you go and not a single mention of Wigan being a rugby town!!!!!!! Team News: Wigan Athletic please log in to view this image Preston North End manager Alex Neil has plenty of options to consider when it comes to team selection for the visit of Paul Cook’s Wigan Athletic to Deepdale. All three of his substitutes at Villa Park on Wednesday night had an impact, Daniel Johnson, Paul Gallagher and Louis Moult all on the scoresheet in the thrilling encounter with Steve Bruce’s Villans. Moult replaced Darnell Fisher, who hobbled from the field after a strong tackle late in the game, and the North End No.2 will need to be assessed before the squad is finalised for the clash with the Latics, but Brandon Barker who missed the game through illness should be available. Josh Harrop will undergo his operation on his ACL injury in the near future and he joins Billy Bodin (with the same injury) on the sidelines. Calum Woods is nearing fitness, whilst Sean Maguire continues to build his fitness after two months on the sidelines, but neither will be fit to return before the international break. please log in to view this image For Paul Cook, Gavin Massey is a long-term absentee with a hamstring injury and rangy centre half Dan Burn hasn't featured this season, having injured his foot at Rangers in their final friendly, but he is now back in training. Captain Sam Morsy missed Tuesday night's game with Swansea City with a minor hamstring injury, but is likely to return at Deepdale for what would be his 300th career appearance. Former North End player, Lilywhites supporter and fan favourite Joe Garner has started each of the last three games for the Latics and is guaranteed a warm welcome Ref Watch: Wigan Athletic please log in to view this image c Premier League official Lee Probert takes charge of the Lilywhites’ local derby against Wigan Athletic at Deepdale this weekend. The experienced referee was last in PR1 for the victory over Leeds United in March this year, his only PNE game last season. Likewise, he took charge of just one North End fixture the previous year, away at Huddersfield Town in April 2017. This is the Wiltshire referee’s tenth game in charge of North End since his joined the league’s lists back in the 2003/04 season; the last of which before that clash at the Terriers, being at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane in January 2015, when the Lilywhites won an FA Cup fourth round replay 3-1. Over the years he has refereed European games and international matches, so is a very well-respected official, who this season have taken charge of five games, issuing 17 cautions and two red cards – both in the same game between Everton and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. An interesting fact is that Lee was the referee when the Lilywhites played at QPR in February 2005 in the first of the modern day Gentry Day fixtures, former PNE skipper Chris Lucketti and David Nugent scoring in the 2-1 win at Loftus Road. He will be assisted by Andrew Garratt and Neil Davies, whilst the fourth official for the fixture will be Ross Joyce.
Need for a spirited display by NE. I remember watching the FA Cup Final when Dave smashed his leg. Bad luck for him at the time but his business sense has maade up for it. Didn't see the incident because got bored because it was B'burn and not NE.
Preston North End 4 (FOUR) Barkhuizen, Robinson 2 Gallagher pen Wigan Athletic 0 (No tries) PNE line-up: Maxwell, Fisher, Hughes, Pearson, Clarke ©, Storey, Barkhuizen (Maguire, 75), Johnson (Gallagher, 75), Nmecha, Browne, Robinson. Subs not used: Rudd, Earl, Davies, Moult, Barker. Wigan Athletic line-up: Walton, A Robinson, Gibson, Morsy ©, Grigg, Windass (McManaman, 69), James, Jacobs (Garner, 69), Kipre, Dunkley, Powell (Burn, 45). Subs not used: Jones, Byrne, Roberts, Evans. Attendance: 15,280 (3,831 Wigan Athletic fans) Referee: Mr L Probert Win and a clean sheet, can't ask for more than that still think we need to improve at the back but two games unbeaten signs of progress at last. As for Wigan they were pants. A fairly dull first half with occasional outbreks of football and sporadic argy bargy, Latics started brighter forced a few early corner which we dealt with before we took the lea through Barkhuizen after nice build up play on the edge of he box. As is the normal Maxwell caused a bit of chaos by dropping the ball near his back post which we managed to clear and Clarke had an iffy moment when giving the ball away but we survived. The rest of the half was punctuated bystoppages and plenty of fouls both Pearson and Robinson booked for cynical trips although Pearson's managed to crock Powell at the same time. Browne and Windass were both bookerd for argy bargy following Robbo's foul. On the stroke of half time Powell went off and was strangely replace by a dustbin by the name of Dan Burn. please log in to view this image First five minutes of the second packed more in than the entired first period, Barkhuizen easily beat the dustbin and in the follow up Browne clattered the underside of the bar. The impressive James for Wigan fired in a shot which Maxwell did well to save before Robinson doubled the lead more good work by Barkhuizen and the ball ended up at Robinson's feet then the net. latics were then reduced to 10 when Gibson was sent off for fouling Pearson looked harsh to me but apparently it was for a high tackle. Wigan brought on ex North Ender made no difference although again Maxwell pulled off a decent save to deny Reece. Game set and match late on Nmecha brought down in the box, Gallagher slotted home, still time at the death for Maguire to play in Robinson for the fourth, up to places, still things to work on but with the promise of Nmecha and at the back Storey things are looking better. Preston manager Alex Neil said: "It's obviously pleasing to score four goals but we have been scoring regularly, the most pleasing thing for me is the clean sheet. "Minutes on the pitch are crucial for Sean Maguire and I think he showed in the build-up to the fourth goal why he is such an important player for us. "He will go away with the Republic of Ireland now and they have said they will make sure he doesn't do too much - they have been top class with us. "Everyone will go home a lot happier tonight and it means we will be going in to the international break in much better spirits." Wigan manager Paul Cook said: "I have to be careful what I say because emotions are raw just after full-time. "We are disappointed but the best team won and that really is the disappointment because it is maybe the lowest point I have had at the club. "The players have been fantastic to date but that was an all-time low. "Irrespective of the sending-off, Preston were a lot better than us and fully deserved the win."
