Ignore all the subplots and back Man City to beat Wigan to nil

In a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final Manchester City face holders Wigan in this season’s quarters, but the vital difference on this occasion is home advantage for the favourites.

Just ask Sunderland what a lonely place Wembley feels like when on the losing side of a cup final, despite there being the best part of 90,000 people in attendance.

That sense of despair greeted many of the current Manchester City team when they lost their chance to win this competition in the dying embers of last season’s final against Wigan, but revenge will be sweet here.

City’s price of 1/6 to win is still a little underwhelming, but the 4/6 on a win to nil holds far greater attraction and better still is the 13/5 about the hosts winning 1-0 or 2-0.

There is no doubting that the Wigan side Uwe Rosler brings to the Etihad are in far better shape than the one thrashed 5-0 by Manuel Pellegrini’s charges in the Capital One Cup way back in September, but they’ll be no fairytale win this time around.

Being a cult-hero from his playing days Rosler is sure to get a rousing reception, but even after guiding the rapidly improving Latics to five straight wins on all competitions, the Etihad is a bridge too far.

Wigan simply have not fared well at City’s home ground in recent times, having lost the last five on the bounce without troubling the scorers.

While the Championship climbers are sure to offer City’s treble-chasers far more resistance than they did in the league Cup, the greater quality in the host’s ranks ought to shine through, especially with revenge in the air.

If you are wondering which Man City scorers to back, then look no further than Sergio Aguero to break the deadlock at 11/5, after the Argentine’s prosperous return of seven goals in his last eight FA Cup appearances.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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