FA CUP PREVIEW: WIGAN ATHLETIC

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium 

Date: Saturday, 15th February, KO 3.00pm 

Match-tag: #FACup (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC) 

Cardiff City look to make the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with Budweiser as they take on current holders Wigan Athletic at Cardiff City Stadium - their first ever trip to City’s new home. 

- This is the first ever meeting between City and the Latics in the FA Cup.

- City’s last victory against the Latics came back in March 1997, as Simon Haworth netted in a 1-0 away victory in the old Division Three.

- This clash sees the last non top-flight side to reach the final of the FA Cup (Cardiff in 2008) go head to head with the only side to ever win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.

- City have in fact lost just one of their last eight FA Cup games played on home soil (W4 D3).

- Cup holders Wigan last lost an FA Cup game back in January 2013 (2-1 v Swindon). Since that defeat they have won eight and drawn two games.

Cardiff have only progressed from the fifth round once in the last nine times they have reached that stage of the FA Cup; in 2008 when they eventually reach the final.

- Wigan have not scored in three of their last four competitive away matches, although they netted three in a 3-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

A man fondly remembered here at Cardiff City Stadium for an impressive loan spell with the Bluebirds last season, Barnett has become a mainstay of the Latics‘ back four since his permanent arrival from Norwich City in the summer. 39 appearances in all competitions  sees Barnett as Wigan’s most regular name this season, his four goals also a joint second best for the north west club this campaign.

Wigan midfielder Ben Watson has quite the romance with the FA Cup with Budweiser. After heading home a last minute winner at Wembley to defeat Manchester City to win the cup last season, Watson has found his form in the competition once again this campaign, scoring in a fourth round victory over Crystal Palace last time out.  

An excellent first-half performance from the Bluebirds saw them denied by the woodwork twice in as many minutes as they edged an open affair at Cardiff City Stadium in midweek. Stand out performances from Ben Turner and David Marshall in the second half ensured City took a point.  

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, Fabio (Théophile-Catherine, 75), John, Medel, Caulker, Turner, Noone, Whittingham (Zaha, 38), Jones, Bellamy, Mutch (Gunnarsson, 67) Subs not used: Campbell, Wolff Eikrem, Daehli. 

On loan Cardiff City striker proved instrumental in the Latics midweek clash with Sheffield Wednesday, netting twice to help claim a 3-0 victory at Hillsborough. Marc Antoine Fortune netted a late third to secure a resounding victory for Uwe Rösler’s side.

Team - Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Barnett, Perch , Boyce, Beausejour, Watson, McCann, Waghorn (Crainey, 81), McArthur (Kiernan, 88), McClean (Fortune, 51), Maynard. Subs not used: McManaman, Espinoza, Nicholls, Gomez.   

    

Two second half goals from Jason Roberts and former City loanee Alan Mahon saw promotion chasing Wigan Athletic claim a 2-0 victory at Ninian Park. It was a match that saw Graham Kavanagh return to face the Bluebirds, receiving a warm welcome from the Cardiff City faithful.

Team - Cardiff City: Alexander, Gabbidon, Barker, Collins, Vidmar , Ardley, Langley, McAnuff (Lee, 69), Ledley, Jerome, Thorne (Boulding, 69). Subs not used: Williams, Boland, Margetson.  

          

Martin Atkinson began his professional refereeing career at just 16 years of age and has risen through the ranks to become one of the most well respected officials in the Premier League. 

Atkinson has been a FIFA-listed official since 2006 and is one of three Select Group referees who is an Elite FIFA referee. He has also refereed Champions League matches as well as at Euro 2012, where he teamed up with fellow Select Group referee Howard Webb.

Atkinson last officiated a Cardiff City match in November, as the Bluebirds took on Aston Villa at Villa Park.