Latics play the first of two games at Boundary Park this week as they take on Bolton Wanderers in Sky Bet League Two (7pm KO).
Harry Kewell’s side are on a high after pulling off a fine comeback away to Carlisle United on the weekend with Marcel Hilssner, Dylan Bahamboula and Carl Piergianni on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win at Brunton Park.
Form Guide
Bolton are currently enjoying a fine run of form. They have won six of their last seven games and the last five have all been victories.
This impressive run of form has seen them rise into contention for an immediate return to League One with them now occupying the last playoff spot.
Last time out they left it late, with Shaun Miller scoring the 93rd minute winner to give them all three points against Barrow.
Latics’ formidable attack will have its work cut out as Wanderers have managed to shut the opposition out in five of their last seven games.
The Trotters’ last six:
- Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Barrow
- Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Scunthorpe United
- Southend United 0-1 Bolton Wanderers
- Mansfield Town 2-3 Bolton Wanderers
- Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Stevenage
- Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Morecambe
Head-to-Head
Meetings: 56
Latics wins: 16
Bolton wins: 27
Draw: 13
For: 71
Against: 99
A dramatic 95th minute winner by Zak Dearnley was the difference when the two sides met earlier this season.
Oldham took the lead through Ben Garrity but were pegged back just five minutes later by a goal scored by Delfouneso. Dearnley came on in the 85th minute and scored an absolutely crucial goal that gave Harry Kewell his first league win and lifted his side out of the bottom two.
Team News
It looks like Zak Dearnley is still out for the time being with another injury setback along with Ben Garrity.
Marcus Barnes and Andrea Badan are still both battling knocks from last week and may also miss out.
Interesting Info
- It's two wins on the bounce for Latics against Bolton - 2-1 (A) in October 2020, and 1-0 (H) in April 2017.
- We’re 15th to their 7th.
- We have 11 wins to their 13.
- We have 5 draws to their 8.
- We have 38 points to their 47.
- We’ve scored 49 to their 39.
- We’ve conceded 54 to their 40.
- They’ve won five on the bounce and are unbeaten in their last seven (W6, D1).
- We’re W2 D1 L3 in our last 6.
- If Bobby Grant scores, it’ll be his 100th career goal.
- CBJ is on 98 career appearances and counting. If he starts it’ll be his 20th start for Latics.
- It will also be DKD’s 40th career appearance if he plays. If he starts, his 20th start too.
- If Harry Clarke starts, his 20th start too on his 20th birthday.
- If Sido Jombati plays, it’ll be his 25th club appearance.
- If Conor McAleny plays it’ll be his 25th league appearance.
Watch Out For
Former Oldham man Eoin Doyle is likely to be a big threat for the Whites.
Doyle joined his current club in the summer transfer window just gone and after a relatively slow start he is starting to really find his feet.
He has 12 league goals this campaign which makes him the joint sixth top scorer in the league.
His pedigree at this level is undoubted and he was a massive part of the Swindon Town side that won promotion to League One last season scoring 26 goals in spite of the season finishing early.
The 32-year-old began his career in Ireland and played for Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers before moving to Scotland where he joined Hibernian.
The Dublin born goalscorer had his first taste of English football when he joined Chesterfield in May 2013.
He netted 13 times in his first season with the Spireites and contributed to the club winning promotion to League One.
Doyle made a blistering start to the next season and as such won a transfer to Cardiff City in the winter transfer window
He struggled to find similar form in Wales and was loaned out to Preston North End where his deal was eventually made permanent. During his time with Preston, Doyle enjoyed a successful loan spell at Boundary Park.
He joined Bradford City in August 2018 and then went on to sign on loan and then on a permanent basis for Swindon Town.
In July 2020, Doyle joined Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal.
Doyle is not the only link between the two clubs with David Wheater having played over 200 times for Wanderers and Latics legend John Sheridan playing for the Whites between 1996 and 1998
In The Dugout
Ian Evatt is the man in the dugout for the visitors.
Evatt has had a mixed start to his short managerial career. In his first posting he was made caretaker manager of Chesterfield in 2018 but that ended in the Spireites relegation to the National League.
However, the 38-year-old had great success in his second job. He managed to take Barrow back to the Football League after 48 years of absence in his second season in charge of the club.
Clearly impressed by what the young Head Coach had achieved with Barrow, Bolton identified Evatt as the man they believed could lead them back to League One and made a successful approach to Barrow to acquire the services of Evatt.
As a player, Evatt is best known for being a part of the Blackpool side that reached the Premier League under Ian Holloway.
Match Officials
The referee for the game is James Oldham.
Taking charge of 24 games so far this season, he has handed out 64 bookings with two red cards.
The last game he officiated a Latics fixture was February 2020 in a 2-2 draw away at Leyton Orient.
He will be assisted by Alistair Nelson and Gary Hilton, with Declan Bourne as the Fourth Official.
Sky Bet Odds
Bolton have been backed to continue their hot run of form and are priced at 5/4 to do so.
Latics are 15/8 to make it back to back league wins and 5/2 available for the draw.
A repeat of Oldham’s 2-1 win from earlier on in the season is 9/1.
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.
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.
Live commentary of this match has not yet started.
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