Oldham seek vital three points when they host AFC Fylde at Boundary Park on Friday afternoon in the National League.
Latics cannot afford to lose further ground to their playoff rivals after their recent rut of form has seen them drop out of the playoff spots, though Micky Mellon will hope their absence will be short lived.
The 0-0 stalemate at Dagenham & Redbridge was the latest result part of a five-game winless run in league action, now without a win since the 2-1 victory at Eastleigh over a month ago now has seen other playoff contenders capitalise.
Having collected just a point per game in their last eight which has seen a drop in their season average (1.5), now comes a frankly critical point in the campaign to build momentum with six to play, split equally home and away.
Mellon’s men have struggled for consistency at Boundary Park this season, whilst just 26 points from their 20 fixtures there ranks in the bottom half though a win on Friday will see that record quickly forgotten if it helps boost Oldham towards playoff football.
The Opposition
The current National League North champions' 2-1 win at Mill Farm over Oxford City created some much-needed breathing room with five to play for Fylde, and space that may prove crucial ahead of two testing matches.
Nicolas Haughton’s superb exploits this season continued after his match-winning effort secured a vital three points, a win that saw the gap to the drop zone extend to five points with Oldham and Gateshead next up.
It was their first win in four National League games, their last coming in the 3-1 victory at York City at the start of March whilst you can count on Fylde to provide excitement no matter where or who they play.
Contrastingly to Oldham who have had two in their last four, Fylde are yet to be involved in a 0-0 this season, and their impressive scoring prowess has shaped them into a potent opponent for any side in the National League this season.
Meanwhile their away form has stuttered in recent weeks. Just one win in their last four on the road followed three successive away wins prior, though Oldham will have to maintain a focused performance with Fylde having scored 12 times in the final 15 minutes away, by far their most active period.
Key Threat
Haughton has continued to impose his quality in this Fylde team, and despite the jump up to the National League this season, the midfielder has thrived on the increased pressure.
His instrumental role in Fylde’s title win last season cannot be ignored. 26 goals in 41 appearances spearheaded the club into the fifth tier of English football, with Haughton well on track to score 20+ goals in a league season for the third successive time.
17 strikes this campaign have arguably been just as valuable to his side in their bid for survival, with his goal and assist last weekend his latest showcase of his talents in the final third.
Haughton is so clever around the box, with his sharp touch and manipulation of the ball difficult to contain, whilst his incision in those areas tend to make the difference, something Latics will hope to control.
In the dugout
Chris Beech has helped guide an impressive start to life in the hot seat at Mill Farm since his permanent appointment in December despite only collecting two wins from nine as caretaker boss.
He had been director of football at the club though his previous experience at Carlisle United for just shy of two years made the appointment a fairly simple decision for the Fylde hierarchy, whilst that choice has shown to be a good one, at least so far.
This Fylde side have particularly picked up momentum in 2024, where they went unbeaten in their first seven outings including four consecutive wins.
A winless run of three recently meanwhile will have kept Beech’s side honest in the battle for survival, whilst the win over Oxford was Fylde’s ninth from 16 since the turn of the new year under Beech, and one that has created some separation ahead of a crucial last five games.
Match Details
The referee will be Andrew Miller, alongside assistants Oliver Nolan and Ryan Aldred. The fourth official is Jonathan Maskrey.
Match coverage and information
Live audio commentary is available on Latics Player, guiding you through the match.
For more information, visit the Latics Player page by clicking here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC
As this game is not being played within the blocked broadcast hours stipulated by UEFA, live streaming will be available through National League TV for supporters in the UK and overseas.
Matchday passes are available for £9.50, with further details here.
As always, we will endeavour to ensure confirmation of the line-up is published as soon as possible on social media.
However, supporters should note that team sheets in the National League are not exchanged until an hour before kick-off. This is 15 minutes later than in the EFL and as a result, the line-up is likely to be published slightly later than in previous seasons.
