Cup a poison chalice for Bruce

Wigan manager Steve Bruce would love a run in the FA Cup – but believes fate is against him.

Bruce takes his side to White Hart Lane tomorrow and a meeting with Tottenham, which he views as a stiff test.

The former Birmingham boss said: “I really do not have the best of luck on cup draws. I always get drawn against a big team.

“Every year it’s Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United. Being away to Spurs is not the most ideal draw.”

Wigan, however, go into the match on the back of a excellent string of results.

Five wins in six Barclays Premier League matches have propelled them to seventh place in the table and in sight of a UEFA Cup spot.

Bruce, though, will be without England striker Emile Heskey (hamstring) and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland (groin) through injury while Lee Cattermole is suspended. Bruce has no option but to give a number of fringe players a run-out and a chance to show what they can do in this third-round game.

He said: “For a club like ours, a cup is a realistic chance of winning something.

“Although I will give some of the fringe players a run out this week I will be expecting a performance. If we can get past Spurs then who knows how far we can go.”

Wigan are making great strides under Bruce, who arrived from Birmingham 13 months ago.

They have gone from being serious relegation contenders to one of the most improved teams in the top flight in the past year.

Bruce, however, is not content to rest on his laurels going into the second half of the campaign.

He added: “We have reached the half way point of the league and I am delighted with the position we are in.

“We have had a fantastic December and 2008 has been very good for us. I think for the calendar year we have picked up 52 points which is excellent, especially if you ignore a horrible October.

“Now can we continue that form into the new year? We have given ourselves a great chance but we can not take anything for granted and there is a lot of hard work still to do.”