Latics vs. Grimsby Town

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 44

23 April 2021

Latics are set to welcome Grimsby Town to Boundary Park ahead of the penultimate Sky Bet League Two fixture (3pm KO).

Keith Curle’s side have hit a decent run of form of late and look intent on finishing the season in style with three wins from their last four, scoring 15 goals.

Last time out, Alfie McCalmont, Dylan Bahamboula and George Blackwood were all on the scoresheet to see off Harrogate Town in a 3-0 victory.

Form Guide

Grimsby Town are not in good form coming into this fixture and have won just two of their previous 11 outings.

Morecambe beat them 3-0 in midweek, but it is also worth noting that whilst they have not been winning a lot of games, they have also not lost many and incredibly, seven of their last 11 have ended up as draws.

Town have been unable to find a good run of form all season and as such sit at the foot of the Sky Bet League Two table despite beating Bolton Wanderers recently.

Failure to pick up a result at Boundary Park could see them officially relegated to the National League.

The Mariners’ last six:

Grimsby Town 0-3 Morecambe
Grimsby Town 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Bradford City 1-0 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Salford City 1-1 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town 1-1 Walsall

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 73

Latics wins: 28
Grimsby wins: 30
Draws: 15

For: 105
Against: 116

Latics have not lost a competitive game against Grimsby since August 1997 and are unbeaten in eight against them (W5 & D3).

The points were shared the last time the two clubs met in an uneventful goalless encounter.

When the sides met at Blundell Park earlier in the season, Latics picked up a rare clean sheet but unfortunately couldn’t manage a goal of their own, but included a promising performance from Youth Team striker, Junior Luamba.

Team News

Zak Dearnley is looking to make a return to the side before the end of the season after a lengthy period of time out with two serious injuries.

Goalkeeper Ian Lawlor is out for what looks like the remainder of the campaign and it is still unclear whether Bobby Grant and Serhat Tasdemir, along with Raphael Diarra and Sido Jombati are available for selection.

In The Dugout

Paul Hurst is the man in the dugout for the visitors.

Paul Hurst.jpg

On the 30^th of December 2020, Hurst was appointed manager of Town for the second time, replacing Ian Holloway as manager.

As a player, Hurst mainly played for Rotherham United, where he went on to make over 400 appearances for moving on to management.

He got his first job in management in 2009 as joint with Rob Scott, they took roles with Ilkeston Town and then Boston United before the pair were appointed at Grimsby Town in 2011.

Hurst was with the club until 2016 and oversaw their promotion back to the Football League via the playoffs in May 2016.

He has since had spells with Shrewsbury Town, Ipswich Town and Scunthorpe United before ending up back at Blundell Park.

Match Officials

The referee in charge is now Alan Young.

He has taken charge of 31 games so far this season, handing out 131 bookings and three red cards.

His last and only Latics fixture this campaign was back in December 2020 in the one-nil defeat to Tranmere Rovers at Boundary Park, with three of the four bookings going to Oldham.

His assistants are Gareth Viccars and Ollie Williams with Abbas Khan as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Latics have been made favourites at 5/4 to claim their fourth win from five games.

Grimsby are 2/1 to keep their faint survival hopes alive whilst a repeat of the stalemate from earlier on in the campaign is 23/10.

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

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

Fixture news for Oldham Athletic vs Grimsby Town on 24 Apr 21

21 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.

Oldham Athletic would like to make it clear that all fixtures are still strictly-behind-closed doors with spectators not being allowed entry.

Extensive guidelines are in place for the safety of officials and players whilst the events are taking place.

It is important you do not travel or attempt to visit Boundary Park on the day, especially with the lockdown restrictions in place.

Match Reports

Latics 1-2 Grimsby Town

24 April 2021

Grimsby Town came from behind to claim three big points in their battle to stay in Sky Bet League Two.

Conor McAleny put Oldham into the lead on the half hour mark but goals from Matt Green and Jay Matete saw the Mariners win 2-1.

Latics’ attacking intent was shown as early as the third minute with McAleny and Nicky Adams linking up well before the latter sent a dangerous cross into the Grimsby box that was nearly turned in by Town defender Luke Waterfall.

It wasn’t long before James McKeown was called into action again with Callum Whelan stinging the gloves of the stopper after cutting inside well on the edge of the box.

The visitors had their first sight on goal with a free-kick from just outside the area after Kyle Jameson had committed a foul but the Latics wall stood strong to deny the Mariners.

The free-scoring McAleny had another opportunity in the 24th minute as Latics were quick to break. He attempted to find the top right-hand corner, but his curling effort had too much on it to trouble McKeown.

The forward did get the opening goal on the half hour mark after Alfie McCalmont did well to capitalise on an error from Matete and won the ball back before playing a perfect through ball to McAleny who cooly slotted home his 21st of the season.

Against the run of play, Grimsby found themselves level six minutes later with Matt Green, who was late addition to the starting 11 getting a shot in from the left-hand side that bounced awkwardly in front of Laurie Walker on its way into the corner of the net.

It was the Mariners who started the second half better and a smart free-kick routine by Matete and Green forced a corner. The resulting corner was headed clear by Piergianni but only as far as Harry Clifton who unleased a powerful effort, forcing a smart save from Walker.

With a win necessary to keep their survival hopes alive, Grimsby continued their positive start to the second half with Clifton finding Lenell John-Lewis in the middle of the box and the striker was disappointed to see his header fly over the cbar.

Latics showed that they were still very much of a threat going forward just minutes later with Marcus Barnes having an immediate impact jinking his way into the Grimsby box and he nearly picked Adams up at the back post, but a good bit of defending kept the scores level.

The Mariners missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 63rd minute with John-Lewis expertly teeing up Luke Spokes who put his effort wide of the mark.

The visitors got the goal that their second half performance deserved, and it was an absolute beauty, Matete drove through the Latics defence before unleashing an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net.

There were bizarre scenes at Boundary Park with Grimsby’s match winner Matete was shown two quick fire yellow cards but the referees assistant and fourth official informed Alan Young that he had got the wrong man and the red card was correctly rescinded.

The game had a real end of season feel to it and Latics were unable to build up enough steam to find themselves a way back into the game with a deflected McAleny header the closest they got to restoring parity and Marcel Hilssner sending his late free-kick over the bar.

The result keeps Grimsby’s survival hopes alive with Tranmere Rovers doing them a big favour by beating Barrow 1-0.

Oldham Athletic – Walker, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni ©, Whelan (Garrity, 57'), Keillor-Dunn (Hilssner, 57'), Jameson (Fage, 70'), McAleny, Adams, Bahamboula (Barnes, 57'), McCalmont

Substitutes: Bilboe, Badan.

Goal: McAleny (30)

Grimsby Town – McKeown, Waterfall, Coke, Green (Jackson 92'), Spokes, Clifton, Matete, John-Lewis, Hewitt, Menayese, Khouri.

Substitutes: Eastwood, Scannell Adlard, Lamy.

Goals: Green (36), Matete (80)

Referee: Alan Young