Oldham’s second consecutive goalless draw – this time with Hartlepool on Saturday – extended their winless run to seven matches in the league.
That does, however, also mean back-to-back clean sheets, after having conceded eight goals in the two games beforehand and having previously gone eight matches without a clean sheet in the league.
Their last shutout actually came in the EFL Trophy when they edged past Sunderland, with Harry Vaughan’s 53rd-minute goal at the Stadium of Light proving to be enough to pull off an upset against a side at the opposite end of League Two.
The Latics will have to hope for another upset on this occasion, considering they currently sit rock bottom of the football league and will be taking on a side flying high in the third tier.
Wigan have not tasted defeat since October – an unbeaten run stretching to 12 games – and have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions.
They have slipped to third in the League One table through no fault of their own, however, as their festive schedule was obliterated by postponements due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saturday’s match with Accrington Stanley was the Latics’ third successive game to be cancelled, after having seen their fixtures with Fleetwood Town and Crewe Alexandra called off.
That means Leam Richardson’s men have not been in action since edging out Oxford United on December 18 and they may have to overcome some rustiness, assuming this game is actually able to go ahead.
On paper, this should be an easy game for Wigan against a side 45 places below them in the football ladder, but cup football can spring surprises and they required penalties to progress past Accrington in the second round.
