Crawley Town vs. Latics

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 40

5 April 2021

Another Sky Bet League Two campaign starts to come to an end with a trip to Crawley on Easter Monday (3pm KO).

Latics were on the wrong side of a 1-0 score line in the last game as they lost to Stevenage on Good Friday.

Form Guide

Latics’ opponents are currently on a poor run of form and find themselves without a win in five games.

Last time out, they drew 0-0 with Scunthorpe United which did put an end to a three game losing streak.

Crawley find themselves 14^th in the League Two table, seven points better off than Oldham.

The Red Devils’ last six:

Scunthorpe United 0-0 Crawley Town
Carlisle United 2-0 Crawley Town
Crawley Town 1-3 Port Vale
Barrow 3-2 Crawley Town
Crawley Town 1-1 Walsall
Crawley Town 1-0 Mansfield Town

Visit the Live Match Centre to access form guides, live text commentary and live audio commentary

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 11

Latics wins: 5
Crawley wins: 4
Draws: 2

When the two sides met at Boundary Park in September it was the Red Devils that were victorious.

Despite leading through Danny Rowe, Latics found themselves 3-1 down with 20 minutes to play and Conor McAleny’s 79^th minute strike unfortunately was just a consolation effort.

Team News

It looks like Zak Dearnley, George Blackwood and Marcus Barnes are still out of action for an extended period with injuries, but are all working hard on a return before the end of the season.

Whilst goalkeeper Ian Lawlor is out injured for what looks like the remainder of the campaign.

Dylan Bahamboula has returned from international duty and should be available for selection.

Watch Out For

Crawley have failed to score in either of their last two games but if there’s anyone who can end that streak, it’s Tom Nichols.

Nichols has scored a very respectable 11 times for the Red Devils this season, with one of those coming in their victory against Latics at Boundary Park.

The forward arrived this summer following his release from League One side Bristol Rovers.

He began his career with Exeter City and after loan spells with Dorchester Town, Hereford United and Bath City, Nichols started to make an impact at St James Park.

He was the Grecians’ top scorer in the 2014-15 season, scoring 15 goals in 39 appearances and also made a name for himself in 2016, scoring and winning the man of the match award in an FA Cup tie with Liverpool.

His form with Exeter earned him an undisclosed transfer to Peterborough United where he managed 14 goals in 58 appearances before making the move to Bristol Rovers.

Nichols had a brief loan spell with Cheltenham town which was cut short due to the 2019/20 season being cut short.

In The Dugout

Yems was appointed manager at the Broadfield Stadium in December 2019 replacing Gabriele Ciofi.

John Yems.png

Yems had a brief spell as part of the management team in interim charge with the Red Devils in the 2006/07 season.

In between his times with Crawley, Yems has had a wide range of jobs in football including being part of the scouting team at Newcastle United.

Stadium

Broadfield Stadium (AKA - The People's Pension Stadium)

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Capacity: 6,134
Built & Opened: 1997
Record Attendance: 5,880 - Saturday 5 January 2013 vs. Reading (FA Cup).

Match Officials

Today's referee is Will Finnie, standing in for James Adcock who was originally appointed.

He has taken charge of 29 games this campaign, handing out 78 bookings and three red cards.

His last game involving Latics was back in November in the 2-1 win over Cheltenham at Boundary Park.

He will be assisted by Richard Morris and Stephen Finch, the vacant Fourth Official is to be confirmed due to Mr. Finnie stepping in.

Sky Bet Odds

Crawley are 21/20 favourites for the clash whilst Oldham and the draw are both priced ay 12/5.

Please gamble responsibly by clicking here. For more information visit: www.begambleaware.org

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

Fixture news for Crawley Town vs Oldham Athletic on 05 Apr 21

4 April 2021

Because the game is classed as behind-closed-doors, supporters can tune into a live match stream with commentary available for all subscribers on iFollow Latics, as Roy Butterworth and Michael Brown talk you through the action.

efl-stay-away-2020-21-970x249--a42130f8-dcef-4d09-8c30-70fbad08b7d4.png

This match is available as a live stream for the fee of £10 by clicking here.

In the current environment, there is a greater dependence on match streaming than ever before.

As a result iFollow generates one of the only revenue streams available to clubs through these financial challenges.

Piracy - and illegal streaming of matches - does not only carry the risk of potential criminal action, but also has a greater financial impact on clubs while supporters are unable to attend matches.

The EFL's campaign would like to not only convey the message that piracy is immoral and illegal, but that it is also financially damaging club's across the divisions.

For more information on the campaign and iFollow, click here.

Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.

Match Reports

Crawley Town 1-4 Latics

5 April 2021

Conor McAleny was on target twice as Latics scored four goals to register an emphatic Bank Holiday win at Crawley Town.

McAleny struck in either half as Keith Curle’s side turned on the style to claim the points in comprehensive fashion at Broadfield Stadium.

The four goals were reward for an authoritative all-round performance which saw Latics dominate throughout as they bossed possession, created countless chances and oozed confidence all over the pitch.

Having controlled the first half from the off, gradually getting closer to an opening goal, the visitors scored twice in as many minutes just before the break through McAleny and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

Back among the goals, McAleny was on target again three minutes after half-time and despite conceding a late goal, there was still time for Dylan Bahamboula to mark his return from international duty with Congo by scoring a stoppage-time strike.

Latics’ intentions were clear from the outset, McAleny’s early shot charged down by Joe McNerney and that set the tone for what was to follow.

Glenn Morris saved from both Callum Whelan and Bahamboula before the Crawley goalkeeper had to be alert to make a fine double-save to deny Whelan and Davis Keillor-Dunn in quick succession.

Midway through the half, Alfie McCalmont lifted an effort over after another quick Latics break, this time involving good work from Keillor-Dunn on the right.

Harry Clarke directed a header wide before McAleny went close with another effort as Latics continued to press forward and move the ball quickly.

At that stage, the only question was whether Curle’s side would make the breakthrough before half-time.

Five minutes before the interval, they did just that, Keillor-Dunn playing a magnificent through-ball to pick out the run of McAleny, who applied an assured finish.

And no sooner had they found a way through than Latics had two, Borthwick-Jackson netting his first league goal in Oldham colours with a fine angled finish after cutting in from the left.

Clearly buoyed by their bright football and deserved goals, the visitors came out for the second period with the same intent and they were soon celebrating again.

This time McAleny broke into the Crawley area and exploited the space afforded to him by sliding a low finish past Morris.

There was to be no let-up from Latics as they continued on the front foot, Keillor-Dunn and Whelan both going close before Borthwick-Jackson sent an angled shot past the far post.

Bahamboula’s low free-kick was claimed by Morris and the Congo international displayed tremendous footwork to engineer a chance for McAleny to send the ball wide.

Laurie Walker made an excellent finger-tip save to touch over Jack Powell’s curling free-kick. From the resulting corner, James Tilley pulled a late goal back for Crawley, but Latics had the final say.

After an initial effort from Nicky Adams was blocked by Morris, Bahamboula turned the ball home from close range, marking his return to the side in style and crowning an excellent all-round team performance.

Oldham Athletic: Walker, Clarke (Adams 72), Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni, Whelan (Garrity 61), Keillor-Dunn (Hissner 65), Fage, Jameson, McAleny, Bahamboula, McCalmont (Ntambwe 72).

Subs not used: Chapman, Badan, Diarra.

Crawley Town: Morris, Francomb (Davies 53), McNerney (Tilley 46), Powell, Nichols, Tunnicliffe, Matthews (Nadesan 43), Craig, Tsaroulla (Sesay 67), Hessenthaler, Wright.

Subs not used: Nelson, Maguire-Drew.

Referee: Will Finnie