A year ago, Leicester City were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two club Newport County, suffering a 2-1 defeat that pushed their struggling manager Claude Puel closer to the sack.
There were no such alarms in the third round this time as Brendan Rodgers – Puel's successor – approaches his first anniversary in charge at King Power Stadium. An own-goal from Tom Pearce and a deflected strike from Harvey Barnes – both in the first half – were enough to despatch relegation-threatened Wigan and maintain Rodgers' 100 per cent record at this stage of the competition.
But it wouldn't be football in 2019-20 without another mind-bending intervention from VAR. Wigan substitute Jamal Lowe thought he had reduced the arrears when he volleyed in Pearce's cross in the 72nd minute, only for referee Simon Hooper to be told he had to rule it out.
Was it Pearce's eyebrow that was offside? Perhaps the tip of the third finger of Lowe's right hand? Either way, no goal. Lowe then had caused to thank the technology when his shove on substitute Wilfred Ndidi just inside the box went unpunished.
On this occasion, Leicester won't care. Fourth round of the FA Cup, semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and second in the Premier League. If the second half of their season matches the first, it will be nearly as memorable for fans in these parts as that stunning title success four years ago.
With at least one eye on Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa, Leicester boss Rodgers made 10 changes from the side that beat Newcastle 3-0 on New Year's Day. In the absence of Jamie Vardy, who has a calf injury, Barnes played at the centre of the attacking three, flanked by Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray.
The days of Wigan's remarkable 2013 FA Cup victory are sadly long gone. They sit third-bottom of the Championship and had to wait until January 1 for their first away win of the season, so it was no surprise to see Leicester take an early lead.
Gray found Albrighton with an excellent pass from deep, and the wide man's cut-back – intended for Barnes – was turned into his own net by Pearce.
Moments later, Wes Morgan – Leicester's title-winning skipper in 2016 – sustained what looked like a hamstring injury as he chased Josh Windass, and was replaced by Caglar Soyuncu.
Though they were largely kept at arm's length by Leicester, Wigan had the pace to cause occasional problems. They came desperately close to equalising in the 39th minute, when Gavin Massey's superb low ball from the right was pushed away by 'keeper Danny Ward, with Windass waiting to pounce. James Justin blocked the follow-up from Everton loanee Kieran Dowell and, cruelly, Leicester doubled their lead less than a minute later.
Ben Chilwell robbed the dawdling Massey on halfway and motored forward, finding Barnes inside the box. The young forward's shot deflected off former Leicester youth player Cedric Kipre and looped beyond David Marshall.
Gray was determined to put the game to bed before the interval and in stoppage time unleashed a rising, swerving drive from 25 yards that Marshall kept out in shaky fashion.
Albrighton continued to look impressive, as he worked terrifically hard on the right. He nearly had his second assist of the match in the 57th minute when he spotted the run of Dennis Praet from midfield and floated the ball into his path, only for the Belgian to direct his header over the bar.
Then came the VAR frustration for both teams. First Lowe's goal was overturned, and then – bizarrely – Hooper's decision not to give Leicester a penalty when Lowe bundled Ndidi over was upheld by VAR operator Peter Bankes. There was still time for Marshall to make sharp late saves to keep out Gray and Barnes, but we continue to live in confusing times.