MATCH PREVIEW: Fleetwood Town

8 September 2017

Oldham Athletic take on Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 3pm kick-off.

The hosts have not played a league match since their 3-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers on August 26, whilst the Latics narrowly lost out in seven goal thriller against third-placed Charlton Athletic last weekend.

Devante Cole has been in impressive form for town, netting four times in their last three league matches and Eoin Doyle showed what a threat he could be for Latics, with a goal and man of the match performance on debut.

Oldham Athletic Assistant Manager, Tommy Wright gave his assessment of Fleetwood Town ahead of the match: “I watched Fleetwood a lot last season and the one thing I noticed they were very organised and very difficult to beat.

“They were very structured in how they played, disciplined, didn’t concede a lot so it will be a tough game.”

Athletic’s squad has been bolstered heading into the match, with deadline day signing Jack Ruddy set to make his debut after arriving straight from international duty and Ryan McLaughlin and Cameron Dummigan have returned from a jubilant Northern Irish squad.

Former Cod Army striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway is expected to be available for selection, as are new signings Queensy Menig, Abdelhakim Omrani and Gevaro Nepomuceno.

A goal from Lee Erwin helped Latics to a 2-0 victory when the sides last met in April, but that has not prevented the hosts being favoured at 3/4 with Sky Bet, whilst Oldham are priced at 4/1 and the draw is 5/2.

Match Coverage

Match Centre

The official website's match centre will be posting regular updates throught the game, including line ups and statistics.

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Subscribers will be able to listen to the club's offical audio commentary of the match brought to you by Roy Butterworth and Sam Rosbottom, pre-match build up starts from 2:45pm.

International subscribers will be able to watch the game live via iFollow.

Overseas fans wanting to watch this season’s action via iFollow can now purchase match passes, in addition to season long subscriptions.

A match pass, costing the equivalent of just £5, will allow overseas fans to choose specific Sky Bet EFL matches to watch during the regular league season and offers fans greater choice in how they follow Oldham Athletic.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Late Heartbreak As Latics Forced To Settle For Draw

9 September 2017

Kean Bryan’s contender for Goal of the Season was cancelled out in added on time as Fleetwood equalised from the penalty spot.

It would be heartbreak for Latics as Ashley Hunter fired down the middle to secure a point for the Cod Army.

All had started well for Latics as Craig Davies had put Latics ahead but that was quickly cancelled out five minutes later.

Bryan restored Athletic’s lead 10 minutes after the break with a wonder strike but Latics had to settle for a point.

Manager John Sheridan elected to give a debut to midweek signing Gevaro Nepomuceno, whilst Queensy Menig had to settle for a place on the bench.

It was Latics who had the better of the opening exchanges.

Anthony Gerrard almost met a set piece into the box, whilst a penalty claim against Davies was turned down.

George Edmundson, who was making his first league start of the season, went into the book on 10 minutes for a late challenge on Devante Cole.

Latics took a deserved lead on 18 minutes through Davies but it was the great ball from Eoin Doyle who laid it on a plate for his strike partner.

Doyle received the ball on the right and delivered an inch-perfect ball on to the head of Davies who netted his second league goal of the season.

The home side did respond well and managed to find an equaliser six minutes later.

A free kick into the box was not cleared properly and Eastham managed to head home at the back post midway through the first half to equalise.

Doyle, who was putting himself about in attack, almost restored Athletic’s lead two minutes later but he fired over from 25 yards.

Just after the half hour mark, the striker picked up the ball 25 yards from goal with nobody around him. He waited for men to arrive, fed Nepomuceno but his strike was blocked as Latics looked the more threatening side.

However, minutes before the break, Fleetwood should have taken the lead through Cole.

The striker peeled off at the back post and received the ball but he struck wide of Jack Ruddy’s far post.

Fleetwood Town had two good chances to take the lead minutes after the restart.

Cole was played through on goal but fired over on 51 minutes, whilst Baily Cargill headed over the crossbar from a corner kick.

The home side would rue those missed chances as Latics took the lead on 55 minutes, and what a goal it was.

Fleetwood partially cleared a cross into the box but it sat up perfectly for Bryan to hit and he thundered the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

The goal will surely be a contender for the Goal of the Season in May.

Latics started to dominate the game and earned a number of free kicks in goos positions but Fleetwood Town defended well.

Sheridan made a change on 72 minutes as Aaron Amadi-Holloway came on against his former club to replace Davies.

The striker had an immediate impact as he got behind the defence but fired wide of the goal.

Latics continued to create chances as Doyle almost flicked the ball on target but he missed his kick, whilst Holloway headed over from a Jack Byrne corner into the box.

The home side started to put the pressure on Latics in the dying stages of the game as Hunter volleyed wide, and Dempsey almost created an opening for himself.

Into added on time and Fleetwood had a perfect opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot.

Edmundson was adjudged to have fouled his man inside the penalty area and Hunter stepped up and put the ball down the middle to draw Fleetwood level.

It was heartbreak for Latics who had dominated the second half proceedings but they had to only settle for a point.

Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Coyle, Bell, O’Neill, Eastham, Hiwula (Hunter 67’), Dempsey, Grant (Glendon 60’), Bolger, Cargill (Burns 76’), Cole.

Subs not used: Neal, Pond, Ekpolo, Schwabl.

Oldham Athletic: Ruddy, Edmundson, Gerrard, Clarke, McLaughlin, Nepomuceno, Gardner, Byrne, Bryan, Davies (Holloway 72’), Doyle.

Subs not used: Placide, Dummigan, Wilson, Banks, Menig, Obadeyi.

Goals: Fleetwood Town (Eastham 24’, Hunter 90+2’) 2-2 Oldham Athletic (Davies 18’, Bryan 55’)

Attendance: 3,606 (997 visiting supporters)

Standings