Top of the Enterprise National League takes on 21st in Sky Bet League One as Wigan Athletic head to Hertfordshire with a place in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup on the line.
In their third season in League One, following relegation from the Championship in 2023, Wigan have endured a tough start to the campaign and currently sit in the drop zone. A tough run of just one victory in eight league outings left them in a precarious position, but they ran out as 3-2 winners over fellow strugglers Bromley on Saturday to end their barren run.
Although Kamarl Grant broke the deadlock on six minutes, the Latics grabbed all three points with Bradley Burrowes netting the winner before sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw with Mansfield Town last time out.
With plenty of Football League experience, Scott Hogan will be looking to fire Wigan clear of the relegation zone.
Having plied his trade for several sides in non-league including FC Halifax Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels and Ashton United, Hogan made a name for himself at Rochdale where he notched 17 goals in the 2013/14 campaign.
A move to Brentford followed and the former Republic of Ireland international took his game to another level in West London, netting 21 goals in two and a half seasons which earned him a big-money transfer to Aston Villa.
Injuries impacted him from becoming a mainstay at Villa Park though and he subsequently spent time on loan in the Championship with Sheffield United, Stoke City and Birmingham City.
Signing permanently with the latter ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, Hogan enjoyed a productive spell with the Blues, becoming their top-scorer in his first season, before signing for MK Dons in 2024.
Injuries again hampered him from returning to his former glory but was key to their promotion from League Two last season. The 34-year-old put pen to paper on a short-term contract at Wigan in the summer and has featured on eight occasions in the league so far this term.
Following an illustrious playing career with notable spells with Hibernian and Celtic, Gary Caldwell is now back at his former employers in the dugout.
Part of the Latics side which lifted the FA Cup in 2013, the 55-time Scotland international flourished with Wigan in his first managerial spell as he guided them to the League One title in his first season.
Caldwell’s side struggled in the opening exchanges of the 2016/17 season which led to his dismissal in October before stints at Chesterfield and Partick Thistle.
His next role in the hotseat came in 2022 at Exeter City and was an immediate hit in Devon, guiding the Grecians to three mid-table finishes in League One as they continued to perform above their expectations.
The chance to return to Greater Manchester was too good to turn down and he rejoined the Latics in February, guiding them clear of relegation and to a comfortable 13th-place finish.
Saturday will be our first-ever meeting with the Latics.
The game kicks off at 15:00 and will operate under full segregation.
Adult – £20.00
OAP – £18.00
Under 20 – £14.00
Under 16 – £10.00
Under 14* – £6.00
Under 5* – £2.00
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
*Must be accompanied by a paying adult or OAP.
Written by Jack Patmore.
