Latics vs. Mansfield Town

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 22

12 January 2021

Latics return to Sky Bet League Two action when they welcome Mansfield Town to Boundary Park on Wednesday evening (7:45pm KO).

Last time out, Oldham lost 4-1 against Bournemouth in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup with Dylan Bahamboula scoring from the spot for Harry Kewell’s men.

Form Guide

Mansfield were also in FA Cup action at the weekend, they drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Town but ultimately lost out to the fellow league two side in extra-time.

However, in the league Town are in good form, winning their last three games. In addition to this, they have lost just one of their last eight league meetings.

The Stags are 16^th in the table, one point and one place lower than Latics.

The Stags’ last six:

Cheltenham Town 2-1 Mansfield Town (AET – FA Cup)
Mansfield Town 2-1 Salford City
Mansfield Town 4-0 Port Vale
Scunthorpe United 2-3 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town 1-1 Southend United
Carlisle United 1-0 Mansfield Town

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 63

Latics wins: 29
Mansfield wins: 17
Draws: 17

Scored - 108
Conceded - 87

The last time the two clubs met was at Boundary Park in January 2020.

It is a game that will be fond in the memories of Latics fans as they watched their side cruise to a comfortable 3-1 win.

Jonny Smith opened the scoring in the 23^rd minute and Tom Hamer doubled the advantage not long before the break.

Gevaro Nepomuceno completed Oldham’s scoring in the 58^th minute. Oldham were denied a clean sheet in the third minute of time added on, with Otis Khan supplying the finish for the stags’ consolation goal.

Team News

In terms of selection, for the return to home since Boxing Day, Head Coach Harry Kewell is still waiting to see if Danny Rowe and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson are available to feature as they recover from recent injuries.

Defenders Andrea Badan and Kyle Jameson continue to be part of full training as they increase their fitness to become match ready.

George Blackwood is still a couple of weeks away after a setback in his recovery, whilst Bobby Grant serves the final game of his three-match suspension.

Watch Out For

Forward Jordan Bowery has been Mansfield’s most deadly striker this season.

Bowery has hit a good run of form and has six goals in his last four league appearances for the stags, including a hat-trick in their 4-0 win over Port Vale.

The 29 year-old began his career with Chesterfield before winning a transfer to Aston Villa in 2012.

During his time at Villa Park, Bowery was sent out on loan to Doncaster Rovers before being sold on a permanent basis to Rotherham United.

Spells at Bradford City, Oxford United and Leyton Orient would soon follow in quick succession before he joined Crewe Alexandra, initially on loan.

Crewe is the club where Bowery has played most football, making 118 appearances and scoring 24 times in the process.

Last season, Bowery played for MK Dons in League One and moved to Mansfield in June 2020.

In The Dugout

Nigel Clough is the man in the visiting dugout.

Mansfield Town are the fourth club that Clough has managed in his career with Burton Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United being the other three.

He has been in charge at Mansfield since the 6^th of November 2020.

The 54 year-old had a good playing career as well as management and he represented Nottingham Forest over 300 times, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday before finishing his career with Burton. He was also capped 14 times by England.

Match Officials

Referee: Scott Oldham

Scott Oldham.jpg

The official with a familiar surname has taken charge of 18 games this season, handing out 28 bookings in the process.

His last fixture involving Latics was the 3-1 win at Bradford City in the EFL Trophy back in November 2020 and will officiate a game involving Mansfield in the 2020/21 campaign for the first time.

Assistants: Gary Hilton & Simon Clayton
Fourth Official: Richard Bartlett

Sky Bet Odds

The bookies are expecting a close game at Boundary Park, with both teams being marked up at 8/5 to secure three points.

9/4 is the price for the draw.

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

How To Follow The Game

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 Mike Leyland you through the action.

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

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

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 2-3 Mansfield Town

13 January 2021

On a freezing cold and foggy night in the North West, Latics surrender their lead seeing Mansfield pick up all three points at Boundary Park for the first time since April 1978.

Following Latics’ departure from the FA Cup at the weekend, Harry Kewell named two changes to his starting XI with top goalscorer Conor McAleny and Callum Whelan returning to the side replacing Brice Ntambwe, struggling with fitness, and Tom Hamer.

To add to this, ahead of kick-off the referee, Scott Oldham, was replaced by the Fourth Official, Richard Bartlett, after he sustained an injury in his warm-up.

The Stags started the early stages on the front foot, but were dealt a hammer blow in the sixth minute as McAleny produced great work down the left-wing before cutting inside and delivering to the far post. The cross found Alfie McCalmont and the Leeds United loanee managed to get a shot underway, straight at the goalkeeper, however the effort went through the hands of Aidan Stone to give the hosts the lead.

McCalmont looked in the mood and, just minutes later, he pressed Ryan Sweeney and managed to intercept their captain before racing clean through, but his low strike was denied by the legs of the shot-stopper.

The Yellows should’ve been level when Stephen McLaughlin’s corner managed to evade everybody and find the onrushing Sweeney, but the former Bristol Rovers man couldn’t keep his effort down from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Nigel Clough’s side turned the first-half on its head by scoring two in two minutes, the first came in the 36th minute as Ian Lawlor raced out and punched a cross straight into the path of Harry Charsley and he smashed a volley first-time into an empty net.

Straight after kick-off, Mansfield won a free-kick inside the Latics half and the delivery was met by Sweeney at the back post and he managed to flick into the back of the net.

Momentum in full-swing, the visitors searched for more and had the chance to extend their lead from 12-yards. George Maris dribbled into the box and encouraged Raphael Diarra into making a foul and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Jordan Bowery, who’s scored six in his last four games, stepped up but blasted his penalty wide of the post.

The gaffer didn’t mess around at half-time, making three changes with the introduction of Zak Dearnley, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Dylan Fage.

However, only five minutes into the second-half and the Stags extended their lead as Jamie Reid found himself in behind the backline and kept his cool whilst running through to slot into the far bottom corner past Lawlor.

Town nearly sealed all three points when Charlton Athletic loanee, George Lapslie, found space around 25-yards out and smashed an effort goalwards before cannoning off the bar and, fortunately, out for a goal kick.

The boys in blue attempted to stage a comeback when McAleny netted his 14th of the campaign as substitute Danny Rowe’s deflected strike fell perfectly to the dangerous attacker and he raced in and curled around Stone into the net.

Harry Kewell’s men pushed for an equaliser and came so close to finding a leveller when a cross from the right found Rowe at the back stick and his header looked destined for the bottom corner, but the goalkeeper produced a fine stop to deny him with Mansfield managing to hold onto the win.

Oldham Athletic XI – Lawlor (GK), Clarke, Piergianni ©, Garrity, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn, Barnett, McAleny, Diarra, Bahamboula, McCalmont.

Subs – Biboe (GK), Borthwick-Jackson, Rowe, Fage, Dearnley, Badan, Hamer.

Goals: McCalmont 6’, McAleny 84’

Subs – Stech (GK), O’Keeffe, Benning, Menayese, O’Driscoll, Maynard, Law.

Goals: Charsley 36’, Sweeney 38, Reid 49’

Referee – Scott Oldham replaced by Richard Bartlett.