Manchester City v Wigan: Capital One Cup match preview

A look at Wigan’s third-round challenge at the Etihad Stadium

The Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said that his side were superior and, if anything, played too quickly as the game wore on (EPA)

Spirits soar high in the Manchester City camp after a triumphant 4-1 home win against fierce rivals Manchester United at the weekend, but attention must now turn to the up and coming third round fixture against Wigan.

The game should see the greatly anticipated return of City defender Micah Richards, who is set to make his first appearance of the season. Whereas players such as David Silva and Gael Clichy are unlikely to be risked, showing that Manuel Pellegrini will not be playing a full-strength squad.

Wigan will be playing their third game in six days forcing manager Owen Coyle to make a number of changes to his squad, including Grant Holt, Gary Caldwell, Ali Al Habsi and Ivan Ramis who will all remain out of his line-up.

The last time these two teams met was back in May, in the FA Cup Final, when Wigan won the cup with a 90 minute winner from unlikely hero Ben Watson. Manchester City will be reluctant to be embarrassed like this again, and going by their recent form, it doesn’t seem a likely result.

KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm.

PAST THREE MEETINGS....

Manchester City 0 Wigan 1 (Watson), FA Cup, May 2013

Manchester City 1 (Tevez) Wigan 0, Premier League, April 2013

Wigan 0 Manchester City 2 (Balotelli, Milner), Premier League, November 2012

STATS...

The two teams have faced each other three times in the league cup, each winning once and drawing once.

Manchester City have won the League Cup two times.

Wigan have never won the League Cup, but were runners-up in 2006.

When these teams last played the attendance was: 86,254.

ODDS...

Manchester City to win: 1.27

Draw: 6.6

Wigan to win: 14

TV: Highlights on Wednesday 25 September, BBC One 23:05-00:05, ‘The League Cup Show’.