Latics travel to the North East to take on Gateshead on Sunday (12:45pm KO) in the Emirates FA Cup.
While Oldham are kicking off their FA Cup campaign on Sunday, Gateshead started their cup run in September, winning 6-0 against Ramsbottom.
Gateshead are currently ninth in the National League North, level on points with Brackley Town who occupy the last available play-off spot, with a game in hand.
Gateshead are one of a handful of clubs in the National League North that operate as a full-time professional club.
Form Guide
Latics come into this cup tie on a three-game unbeaten run including Saturday’s impressive fightback against Northampton Town.
Gateshead made it five wins from six on Tuesday night with a 3-0 home win over Curzon Ashton, bouncing back from a 3-2 defeat against Guiseley at the weekend.
Gateshead’s last six:
- Gateshead 6-0 Ramsbottom (FA Cup)
- Kidsgrove 0-1 Gateshead (FA Cup)
- Gateshead 1-0 Gloucester
- Gateshead 5-0 Colne (FA Cup)
- Gateshead 2-3 Guiseley
- Gateshead 3-0 Curzon Ashton
Head to 'Heed'
This is the first time that the two clubs have met in the FA Cup competition format.
The two clubs have met previously but not since the formation of the current Gateshead club in 1977.
Route To Round One
Gateshead have made it to the first round of the FA Cup without shipping a goal.
They kicked off in style with an emphatic 6-0 win over Northern Premier League Division One North West side Ramsbottom.
A solitary second-half goal in the next round against Kidsgrove ensured the Heed’s progress.
Gateshead finally booked their place in the first round proper in front of their home fans with a 5-0 win against Colne.
What We Said
Dino Maamria: "The televised game tells you it is a potential banana skin, obviously they looked at the fixture list and thought a football league club going to a non-league club two divisions below could potentially be a tough one.
"I've been there before whereas a non-league club we look at those games and wait for it all season to get a team a division or two above you.
"Their players will be trying to prove they are better than our players and they are worthy of football league careers, there is no question they will be playing the game of their lives.
"What we need to make sure is their game is not as good as our game on the day, so that's what we've got to prepare for. We've got to be professional, we've got to get the basics right and we've got to play our football. If we do that we'll win the game.
"I think if you give anyone a chance to impose themselves on you they will give you problems, so I think as long as we go there with confidence and self-belief with the building blocks of what we've been doing for the past two to three weeks then I think we'll be fine."
What They Said
Mike Williamson: "I think it’s business as usual kind of week because we believe in the preparation and the environment is to make us up to more on the weekend so regardless of the competition were going into, we want the lads to make sure they’re as ready as they can be.
"We’re naturally all excited and looking forward to it but we’ve got to make sure we play the game and not the occasion.
"We are obviously going to respect them because they’re a league club but we’ve got confidence we can cause an upset."
Team News
Maamria: "Chris Eagles came back last week and had a good game, his first full 90 minutes for a while.
"Egert is obviously still available after his recent suspension. Maouche came on last Saturday and I think he changed the game, he's back again from injury. So, I've got one or two decisions to make this weekend.”
Williamson: "We’re all good, no new injury concerns this week and everyone’s looking forward to it.”
Watch Out For…
JJ O’Donnell – The Gateshead wide man added another goal to his tally for the season when he opened the scoring in Gateshead’s 3-0 win over Curzon Ashton on Tuesday evening.
He arrived on loan from fellow conference side Luton Town in January 2013 and was part of the Gateshead side that came just 90 minutes away from a place in the Football League in 2014.
The then loanee from Luton wrote his name in the hearts of the Gateshead faithful with a stoppage-time goal in the play-off semi-final second leg against Grimsby Town, confirming the Heed’s place in the Wembley playoff final.
His move was made permanent in the following summer.
JJ would later be sidelined for over two years as a result of a rare foot condition. During this time, he stayed on with the club assuming the role of kit manager.
Ticket Information
714 tickets have already been sold but Latics fans can buy tickets on the day with cash turnstiles in operation.
There is no increase in the price so that prices remain:
- Adults - £10
- Concessions (Over 65) - £6
- Under 16s - £3
- Under 12s – Free of charge with a full paying Adult.
All spaces on the supporter’s club coach have also sold out.
How To Follow/Watch The Game
There are extended highlights available on BBC’s Final Score.
Coverage kicks off at 12:30pm on BBC Two that features seven other Emirates FA Cup games.
Live commentary is available on iFollow Latics courtesy of Dom Shaw and Roy Butterworth. To subscribe, click here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.
Live commentary of this match has not yet started.
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