Wigan vs Fulham Predictions

• Fulham have won their last two FA Cup ties against lower-level opposition
• Wigan have lost their last two FA Cup matches against Premier League clubs by 2-0 scorelines
• Fulham have scored exactly two goals in their last five away games

Fulham can feel the FA Cup fever

Fulham are likely to prove too strong in all departments for 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Marco Silva is not going to take too many chances with his line-up because this competition offers them a potential route into Europe and they are going well enough in the Premier League to go in strong at the Brick Community Stadium.

That’s what Manchester United did last January when they avoided a potential banana skin at the beginning of their successful cup run. The Red Devils were given a couple of early scares by Shaun Maloney’s men, who were 18th in League One at the time, before securing a 2-0 victory.

Wigan are only two places higher in the third tier as they prepare for the visit of Fulham, who are much more potent on the road than United were or still are. The Cottagers have scored multiple goals in seven of their last nine away games, doubling up in each of their last five trips.

Wigan will try to keep it close

Two goals should be enough for them to win in Wigan, where the Latics are known more for their doughty defence than any fluid attacking play. Maloney’s men have scored more than one goal in only four of their 17 home games this term, failing to register in seven.

Fulham should win but the question after that is by now many. They would take a 2-0 now if they could be sure of a clean sheet, so it may be safer to back the visitors to cover a -1 handicap rather than take them to win with at least three goals in the game at a similar price.

Wigan have lost their last two cup ties to Premier League clubs by that scoreline and have not shipped more than two goals in their last three home FA Cup matches against higher-level opponents.