[themaclad]

https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup

Attendance: 14,366 (3,561 Wigan fans).

Referee: Oliver Langford.

The only positive on a dire night was that Gibson managed his first 45 minutes in a couple of months following injury, otherwise this was a pretty tame performance and can no complaints about the result
On a pitch which has received an absolute battering from the weather this winter and is now resembling a freshly ploughed field, Wigan could have been ahead in 20 seconds Wright's flicked effort went narrowly wide, it was closer to the goal than his penalty in the second half.
Costello probably should have scored when he waltzed through the offside trap but put it wide, t'other end two Dobbin plus a header by Storey were all we could muster.

The first half actioned petered out reminisent of many of last seasons game, slow ponderous build up, zero all at half time.

Gibson replaced by Hughes at half time as we upped the pace albeit slightly, chances again at a premium, with the Pies looking good on the break, subs arrived made little difference then with 15 minutes to go the Pies took the lead, Bettoni's deflected effort wrong footed Iversen. Minutes lter Wigan thought they should have had a penalty, Costello booked for diving, however with about 5 to go they did get a penalty Devine bringing down a Pie in the box, bit of an argumnet as who was taking , Wright got the vote and miles over the bar it went.
Renewed hope not really, thought we had a last minute reprieve, Smith wheeled away after scoring but the flag of doom had been raised for offside, underwhelming it really was.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"From the first minute, we weren't playing how we want to play.

"I'm not talking about loose passes, a lack of energy or anything like that. I'm on about the things we constantly work on that I think give us an edge and we didn't do it.

"Everything to do with organisation really, things we pride ourselves on, we weren't as good as we normally are and it makes the game harder for yourself.

"One thing we've been pretty good as a group is reflecting properly, being really honest and then trying to put it right, so we'll do that again.

"It's just a frustrating performance. You get them, but you don't want to have them. We all feel the same because they've been few and far between."

Wigan boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I'm pleased for our fans and pleased for the lads. The game plan worked a treat. I did enjoy it of course, coming back to your old club, performing to the levels that we did and limiting them to very few chances, if any.

"We had three big chances and should score more goals, [we had] the penalty obviously and a couple of chances in the first half against a fantastic team who are flying high in the Championship.

"We want to win every game as much as we can. We're probably not going to win the FA Cup but it's nice, with our supporters behind us in a local derby, to go through to the fourth round so I'm really pleased."