York vs Wigan Prediction: 2013 winners should sail into FA Cup third round

National League outfit York City are one of 10 non-league clubs remaining in the FA Cup, and the Minstermen kick off the second round on Friday evening (19:45) with a home tie against the 2013 winners, Wigan Athletic.

52 clubs separate these sides currently, with this week’s fixture pitting a team eyeing promotion to the Championship against one already looking nervously over their shoulders at the sixth-tier of English football.

Ahead of the game at the LNER Community Stadium, we have picked out a couple of the best markets available.

Team News

York received positive news over Alex Woodyard earlier this week, with the midfielder’s red card against Maidenhead United on Saturday overturned by the FA. Former West Brom talent Quevin Castro is out, however, after phoning in sick on Thursday. The 22-year-old joins the injured Dipo Akinyemi on the absentee list, which also features cup-tied duo George Sykes-Kenworthy and Will Davies.

Wigan have only been given a two-day break between their 3-0 win over Fleetwood Town on Tuesday and this Friday’s fixture. If Latics boss Shaun Maloney does decide to make a few changes, expect the likes of Josh Magennis, Liam Shaw and Callum McManaman – Player of the Match in that famous 2012 final – to come into contention. Maloney, though, has suggested that he won’t take the game lightly.

Match Odds

York come into this one as 5/1 underdogs to pull off a victory, while a Wigan win at 4/9 underlines the task at hand for the National League side. A draw – which would force a replay at the DW Stadium – is priced at 7/2.

Both teams to score is 4/7 and you can get 4/9 for over 2.5 goals.

Stephen Humphrys to score anytime @ 23/20

Maloney revealed on Wednesday that he would be going with a “full strength” team on Friday, so if he sticks to his word then Humphrys stands a good chance of starting this one.

The 26-year-old has scored seven times in League One this season, including the equaliser against Leyton Orient last Saturday. I was at that game, and the forward was an absolute delight to watch, despite missing a penalty in the second minute. His mix of pace and power was too much at times for Orient, so he should fancy his chances of weaving some more magic against a side two divisions below.

Humphry’s goal on Saturday was a stunner, and I think 23/20 is a generous price for him to score again if he does make the starting XI.

Wigan half time/full-time @ 23/20

The FA Cup can throw up all kinds of weird and wonderful moments, and you only have to look at Horsham’s 3-3 draw with Barnsley in round one to remember that money and status isn’t everything in football.

Regardless, if Maloney is serious about his team selection on Friday, then I expect the Latics to get the job done with the minimum of fuss.

After a four-game wobble between the end of September and start of October – where they lost four on the bounce – Wigan have recovered impressively, winning five of their last seven in League One. In fact, if it wasn’t for an eight-point deduction they would be five places higher up in the league.

York’s form has picked up recently, with their FA Cup round one victory over Chester City one of three in their last five. However, Chester are one division below them in the National League North while their other two wins in that period – against Oxford City and AFC Fylde – came against teams sat third-bottom and second-bottom, respectively, of the National League.

With respect, Wigan are no Oxford City or AFC Fylde, so I expect them to show their quality early on and race into a first-half lead in North Yorkshire.