Latics vs. Newport County

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 24

23 January 2021

Latics welcome Newport County to Boundary Park as they continue their Sky Bet League Two campaign (3pm KO).

Last time out, a goal from Davis Keillor-Dunn won Harry Kewell’s men a share of the points at the Bescot Stadium.

Form Guide

County are currently on a tricky run of form and they have now gone seven games in all competitions without a win.

They have drawn their last three league outings and the dropped points have seen them fall from the top of the table.

But are still in second place, behind only Cambridge United by one point with two games in hand on their promotion rivals.

The Exiles’ last six:

Cheltenham Town 1-1 Newport County
Newport County 0-0 Salford City
Newport County 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion (FA Cup, Brighton won on pens)
Crawley Town 1-1 Newport County
Newport County 2-4 Oldham Athletic
Salford City 1-1 Newport County

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 13

Latics wins: 8
Newport wins: 3
Draws: 2

Scored: 26
Conceded: 10

The clubs faced off against one another last month with Latics going to Rodney parade and bringing back maximum points.

Twice Oldham had to come from behind with Keilor-Dunn and Conor McAleny cancelling out goals from Scott Twine and Scott Bennett.

A huge moment in the game was Gary Lawlor denying Podraig Amond from the penalty spot to keep the score at 2-2 in the 71^st minute.

Oldham were able to take full advantage of the missed spot kick and Leeds loanee Alfie McCalmont firing Latics into the lead in the 85^th minute.

Zak Dearnley wrapped it up in the third minute of time added on, bagging his first goal since his injury layoff.

Team News

In terms of selection Head Coach Harry Kewell may have Zak Dearnley still out in the short-term due to injury in the last home game.

A decision needs to be made on which loanee will miss out with five only allowed in the matchday squad.

George Blackwood is still a couple of weeks away after a setback in his recovery.

Interesting Info

Against Newport:

A solid overall record: P13 - W8, D2, L3 - Scored 26 & Conceded 10.
Home record (0-1 defeat in 2018): P6 - W5, D0, L1 - Scored 16 & Conceded 3.
The first match between the teams was in 1962.
Latics' biggest win was the 5-0 win in February last year. The highest scoring match against Newport was the 4-2 win in December.
There’s been two goalless draws - 1962 and 1981. And no score draws ever between the two clubs.
Oldham are on three straight wins against Newport, scoring 10 in the process, conceding just two.

Match Related:

The Exiles are the 6th best side in the league away from home (W4, D5, L3 - Scored 17 & Conceded 12). Latics are the worst team in the league at home (W2, D1, L9 - Scored 16 & Conceded 23).
Newport are on a miserable run of form, including losing at home to Oldham just before Christmas and are six without a win, D4, L2. Which included the narrow defeat to Brighton in the cup on penalties.
Their last win came on the road - a 2-0 victory at Grimsby at the start of December.
But have scored in every away game this season, while Latics have conceded in every game at Boundary Park this season.

Watch Out For

The Exiles have struggled for goals of late which coincides with Scott Twine going back to parent club Swindon Town.

If there is any man that is capable of arresting County’s decline in front of goal, it is Padraig Amond.

Padraig Amond.jpg

Amond scored in the last game that his side won but the club’s run without a win has coincided a baron run of the striker.

He started his career with Shamrock Rovers in 2006. 2007 saw him go out on loan to Kildare County. He left Shamrock Rovers in 2010, moving to fellow Irish side Sligo Rovers.

After an impressive season with Sligo where he scored 17 times in 27 appearances, the 32 year-old left Ireland for Portugal, joining FC Pacos De Ferreira.

Struggling to make an impact in Portugal, Amond was sent out on loan to Accrington Stanley where he would get his first taste of English football.

His move was later made permanent and he has had spells at Morecambe, Grimsby Town and Hartlepool United before he joined Newport in August 2017.

In The Dugout

Michael Flynn is the man in the dugout for the visitors.

Michael Flynn.jpg

He was appointed boss at Rodney Parade in March 2017, and he managed to lead the club to a dramatic great escape to stop the club falling out of the football league.

During his time with the Exiles, Flynn has some impressive cup upsets on his CV which saw them reach the fifth round for the first time since 1949 in the 2018/19 season.

Match Officials

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

The League Two official taken charge of 19 games this season, handing out 51 bookings and two red cards. His last game with Latics was the 2-1 win at Southend back in October 2020.

Assistants: Paul Newhouse & Oliver Bickle
Fourth Official: Andy Haines

Sky Bet Odds

Newport have been made the bookies’ favourites for the game, priced at 6/5.

Latics are 21/10 to complete the double over County and the draw is 23/10.

A repeat of December's 4-2 triumph for Oldham is 80/1.

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 3-2 Newport County

23 January 2021

Harry Kewell’s side complete the double over Newport County in a five-goal thriller at Boundary Park.

New signing Nicky Adams came straight in for his debut and was named captain as the Head Coach named five changes to the team with Ben Garrity, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Bobby Grant and Dylan Bahamboula returning. To add to this, fellow new boy Marcus Barnes was named on the bench.

Initially, first-choice goalkeeper Ian Lawlor was starting, however, he sustained a late injury before kick-off which meant that Laurence Bilboe replaced him between the sticks for his second Latics appearance.

The game started in a frantic manner as with just three minutes on the clock the visitors found themselves ahead. Debutant Luke Gambin delivered a cross in from the right-wing which was met by Jake Scrimshaw and he guided his header into the far corner.

However, their lead didn’t last long as five minutes later former Wrexham midfielder Davis Keillor-Dunn got his side level. Tom King, who set new Guinness World Record in midweek against Cheltenham Town for longest goal in football, punched Bahamboula’s floated cross into the path of the midfielder and he beat his man before smashing under the shot-stopper.

Michael Flynn’s side were reduced to ten men when captain Josh Labadie lashed out on Marcel Hilssner, right in front of the referee and Chris Sarginson had no hesitation in showing a red card.

In the 29^th minute, the boys in blue went ahead through another ex-Wrexham player, Bobby Grant. Conor McAleny’s shot on goal was parried into the path of the striker and he tapped in from close range.

Bahamboula continued to showcase his ability and nearly got his rewards when he glided past Ryan Haynes and dribbled into the box before clipping a cross to Garrity, at the back post, but King managed to keep him out.

Just before half-time, provider turned goalscorer for the Exiles as Gambin found the back of the net. The Colchester United loanee dribbled towards the Oldham area before cutting inside to curl into the bottom corner.

It was a slow start after the interval, but Latics did have a couple of half-chances. First, Bahamboula couldn’t get good contact on the ball after King parried McAleny’s shot before Hilssner’s dripping strike from range went just over the crossbar.

Harry Kewell’s side found the winner in the 74^th minute as both new signings produce great work down the right-wing with Barnes laying the ball off to Adams and his cross hit Newport defender Micky Demetriou, trickling into the back of the net.

Latics should’ve wrapped up the victory as King brought McAleny down inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot, however, Bahamboula stepped up and smashed his penalty over the crossbar.

County piled on the pressure in added time and gave Latics a back of a scare, but they couldn’t break down the backline as the lads held on for the three points.

Oldham Athletic XI – Bilboe (GK), Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson (Badan 46’), Jombati, Garrity, Keillor-Dunn (Barnes 65’), Grant (Ntambwe 84’), McAleny (Jameson 91’), Hilssner, Adams ©, Bahamboula.

Subs – Chapman (GK), Piergianni, Hamer.

Goals: Keillor-Dunn 8’, Grant 29’, Demetriou OG 74’

Newport County XI – King (GK), Haynes (Willmott 79’), Labadie ©, Dolan, Longe-King, Gambin (Baker 57’), Bennett, Scrimshaw (Abrahams 57’), Demetriou, Taylor (Amond 57’), Shephard (Collins 79’).

Subs – Townsend (GK), Evans.

Goals: Scrimshaw 3’, Gambin 40’

Referee – Christopher Sarginson.