Oldham Athletic are back at home this weekend as Southend United visit for a 3pm kick off.

Latics head into the game with confidence after picking up seven points from a possible nine in their last three games.

A 2-1 home win over Bradford City was followed by a 2-2 draw away at high-flying Blackburn Rovers. Latics secured all three points in a relegation clash against MK Dons.

The only goal of the game came from Anthony Gerrard who headed into the top corner to secure a valuable three points.

After the Rochdale game was postponed last weekend due to their involvement in the FA Cup, Latics dropped back into the relegation places on goal difference.

Athletic currently sit level on points with Fleetwood Town and a win tomorrow afternoon could take them as high as 17th.

Southend United also come into the game with confidence after the appointment of Chris Powell as their new manager.

In his five games in charge so far, he has won four and drawn one and moved the Shrimpers away from the relegation places.

He has picked up impressive wins against high-flying Wigan Athletic, Peterborough United and Portsmouth and picked up a point on the road at Bury.

They currently sit 13th in the Sky Bet League One table and have picked up 44 points in 33 games.

Wilfried Moimbe comes back into the side following his suspension whilst Patrick McEleney could be in line for his debut after recovering from a thigh injury which has ruled him out since his arrival at the club.

Speaking ahead of the game, Wellens said: “Chris Powell is someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for. He had a great career and I played in his last ever game.

“He was a coach under Nigel Pearson and Craig Sheakspeare at Leicester and we turned up to a game at Barnsley and both of our left backs were injured.

“That wasn’t a problem because Powell at 41 years old and ripped to bits, he takes his kit off and plays. He marked Adam Hammill out of the game, took his kit off and that was his career done.

“He’s got a good feel around professional footballers and knows what to do with them. He has a nice demeanour and someone I have a lot of respect for.

“He’s gone in at Southend and it’s no surprise that they are on a real good run of form.

“They have got two ways of playing. We have watched their game against Bury and their pitch is similar to ours and it meant they went quite long.

“They play the percentages a lot and play a rigid 4-4-2 so I imagine it will be similar to that.

“Whether they go away from home to a nice pitch and play different then that is another thing but we think that the Bury game is a good gauge for us.

“Powell has proven that he can work different styles and get results.”

Sky Bet have listed Athletic as favourites for tomorrow’s game at 5/4 whilst the visitors are 11/5.

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