MATCH PREVIEW: Oldham Athletic vs. Leyton Orient

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 1

11 September 2020

Latics will take on Leyton Orient in the Sky Bet League Two season opener on Saturday (3pm KO) in the club's first league match since March.

Harry Kewell’s men go into the game off the back of a 3-0 win over Carlisle United in the Carabao Cup that set up a trip to Morecambe on this coming Tuesday night.

Goals from newcomers Ben Garrity, Bobby Grant and Conor McAleny in the first competitive game of the season will no doubt give Latics confidence going into the new league campaign.

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Orient also come into the game off the back of a win in the league cup. They had to come from behind to overcome fellow League Two side Forest Green Rovers though.

The O’s finished 17th last season, one point and two places better off than Oldham.

Head-to-Head

Both fixtures between Latics and Orient finished in a draw last season. The game finished 1-1 at Boundary Park with Jonny Smith on the scoresheet and two goals from Zak Dearnley earnt Oldham a point in the reverse fixture.

The last time Latics beat Leyton Orient came in an FA Cup tie in November 2014 with Mike Jones scoring the only goal of the game to book Oldham’s place in the Second Round.

Watch Out For

Danny Johnson has started the new season in fine form, netting two goals in Orient’s opening two games

Prior to the season being curtailed early, Johnson had been in good form, netting in his last two games. This includes the equaliser he scored against Latics at Brisbane Road.

The Middlesbrough born forward began his career in non-league turning out for Harrogate Town, Billingham Synthonia and Guisborough Town before getting a transfer to Cardiff City.

While at the Bluebirds, he had loan spells with Tranmere Rovers and Stevenage. After being released from Cardiff, Johnson moved back to the North East, signing for Gateshead.

His impressive form with the Tynesiders earnt him a move north of the border to Motherwell. He then signed for Dundee where he had a brief spell before joining Orient in January 2020.

Johnson will be looking to take his form from the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy into league action when Orient come to Boundary Park this weekend.

Familiar Face

Orient striker Conor Wilkinson has also played for Latics.

Wilkinson came to Boundary Park on a loan deal in the 2014/15 season. In his time with the club he made 18 appearances scoring three times.

He joined the O’s last summer from Dagenham and Redbridge. In his first season at Brisbane Road he made 28 appearances, finding the back of the net on five occasions.

Wilkinson has netted twice already this season including a 95th minute winner against Brighton under 21s in the EFL Trophy.

In The Dugout

Ross Embleton is the man in the visitors’ dugout.

Embleton took the reins on a permanent basis in January 2020 after he had taken interim charge following the dismissal of Carl Fletcher.

The 38-year old has been involved in Orient’s coaching staff since 2017 and has stood in as interim manager three times prior to his temporary appointment.

Match Officials

Referee - Declan Bourne
Assistant Referees - Mark Cunliffe & Paul Newhouse
Fourth Official - Andrew Dallison

Declan Bourne has never officiated a Latics fixture before.

Last season, Bourne officiated 16 games, brandishing 48 yellow cards and two red cards.

Sky Bet Odds

Latics go into the game as favourites, priced at 11/8. Orient are 9/5 to leave Boundary Park with maximum points.

Both games last season ended level and the draw is priced at 9/4 for this fixture.

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

10092020 iFollow codes

10 September 2020

Because the game is classed as behind-closed-doors, supporters can tune into live video with commentary available for all subscribers on iFollow Latics,with Roy Butterworth and Mike Leyland talking you through the action.

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

Fixture Information

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 new local restrictions in place.

Match Reports

Latics 0-1 Leyton Orient

12 September 2020

Danny Johnson’s last-minute goal was the difference between the two sides on the opening day of the Sky Bet League Two season.

Ross Embleton’s side started the game is a positive manner after Lee Angol dispossessed Ben Garrity inside the Latics half and drove goalwards, but he blasted his long-range strike way over.

Following this, the O’s continued to push forwards again and they worked the ball up to Craig Clay and he dragged his low effort just wide of the post.

Oldham grew into the match during the first-half but failed to create any clear cut chances. Davis Keillor-Dunn showed promising glimpses and cut inside from the left-wing before shooting but a defender managed to get in the way of his attempt.

Leyton Orient came close to taking the lead with a screamer just before the interval when central defender Dan Happe received the ball in his own-half and confidently dribbled forward with the ball, and from about 30-yards he unleashed a dipping long-range strike which just about went over the crossbar.

Minutes into the second-half, Angol found space for himself on the edge of the area and fizzed a low strike on goal, but Lawlor pulled off a fine save to keep the forward out.

Harry Kewell’s side created a fantastic opportunity in the 61st minute as Keillor-Dunn played a lovely weighted through ball in behind to Conor McAleny. The attacker couldn’t quite control the pass which took him wide but from an angle, he struck low and hard at goal, but Lawrence Vigouroux denied him with his legs.

Latics went in search of the winner and came close when Keillor-Dunn had the vision to play Zak Dearnley through down the right and the striker pulled his pass back to Danny Rowe inside the penalty box. Rowe turned and shoot at goal, but it went straight at the goalkeeper.

In the 89th minute, the visitors managed to find a winner as Johnson made it three goals in three games for himself. The forward raced onto a looping cross inside the area before keeping his composure to slot under Lawlor and into the back of the net to seal Leyton Orient’s first win at Boundary Park since August 2014.

Oldham Athletic XI – Lawlor, Hamer, Jombati, Piergianni, Borthwick-Jackson, Garrity, Whelan, Fage (Rowe 45’), Keillor-Dunn, McAleny, Grant (Dearnley 72’).

Subs – Woods, Rowe, Barnett, Dearnley, Badan, Da Silva, Hough.

Leyton Orient XI – Vigouroux, Ling, Cisse, Happe (Turley 66’), Coulson, Clay, Wilkinson (Sotiriou 62’), Dayton (McAnuff 58’), Brophy, Angol, Johnson.

Subs – Sargeant (GK), Widdowson, McAnuff, Magure-Drew, Sotiriou, Turley, Wright.

Goals: Johnson 89’

Referee: Declan Bourne.