[themaclad]

Well look who is coming back

Ryan Thomas Lowe (born 18 September 1978) is an English professional football coach and former player, who is currently head coach of EFL League One side Wigan Athletic.

Lowe's playing career, as a striker, began at Burscough in 1999 and he became a Football League player with Shrewsbury Town the following year. He played for eight league clubs in all and had three spells at Bury and at Crewe Alexandra. In the second half of the 2010–11 season, Lowe established a Bury club record by scoring a goal in each of nine consecutive league games. Lowe ended his playing career at Bury who had signed him again in January 2017, this time as player-coach. He became caretaker-manager twice in 2017–18 after first Lee Clark and then Chris Lucketti were sacked. Lowe retired from playing in March 2018 during his second caretaker appointment.

In May 2018, despite their relegation to League Two, Bury offered Lowe the position of full-time manager on a two-year contract to the end of the 2019–20 season. After guiding the club to promotion back to League One, he left Bury on 5 June 2019 to take over at newly relegated Plymouth Argyle, managing them to an immediate return to League One before joining Preston North End in December 2021, staying with them until August 2024. He was appointed as Wigan's head coach in March 2025.



Attributed to Timmy 96

https://wiganathletic.com/

PIES FORM

[themaclad]

Team News

Odel Offiah was withdrawn in the victory at Bristol City and is a doubt for Friday night’s fixture, whilst Robbie Brady and Andrija Vukčević remain sidelined with injuries.

Lewis Gibson moves ever closer to a return and could come into contention to feature in the cup clash against The Latics.

The Hosts

Wigan come into the tie on the back of an indifferent run of form which has seen them pick up four points from the four matches they’ve played since Christmas. Boxing Day defeat to Graham Alexander’s Bradford City was followed by a 2-0 win at Burton Albion before a 1-1 home draw against Barnsley and a narrow defeat on the road at league leaders, Cardiff City.

Ryan Lowe returns to Deepdale in the dugout for the first team since leaving North End by mutual consent following the first game of last season against Sheffield United and he’ll be looking to guide his team further away from the relegation zone and closer to the Play-Off places in a really tight and competitive Sky Bet League One.


Match Officials

Referee: Oliver Langford

Assistant Referees: Mark Stevens, Shaun Hudson

Fourth Official: Richard Eley

Oliver Langford will take charge of the clash at Deepdale and he last officiated a North End fixture in the dramatic 3-2 victory against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in November. He also took charge of the opening day draw at QPR.

The cup, many years ago third round day was a highlight of the season, all 32 games played with a three pm kick off, these days fixtures are played at varying times during the weekend, sides play less than full strength sides, shame really.
As for this be good to win against Fantastic

On a personal note 93rd consecutive game which equals my record, not an anorak really.

[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."