Latics vs. Colchester United

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday Four

20 August 2021

Latics welcome Colchester United to Boundary Park for the third fixture of the Sky Bet League Two season on Saturday (3pm KO).

Still searching for their first win of the campaign, Keith Curle’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the recently relegated Bristol Rovers last time out.

Form Guide

Colchester United are also still searching for their first win of the campaign.

The U’s have drawn two of their opening three league fixtures, losing the other whilst also suffering defeat in the Carabao Cup to Sky Bet Championship outfit Birmingham City.

Last time out, a late stoppage time penalty from Freddie Sears was enough to claim a point against Mansfield Town.

Last term, United finished two places and three points worse off than Oldham but they did finish the season well following brief worries of the drop to the Vanarama National League.

They won three of their closing five games last season and they will be hoping to pick up some similar form sooner rather than later.

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 51

Latics wins: 16
Colchester United wins: 14
Draws: 21

Scored - 73
Conceded - 64

Latics secured four points from a possible six against their opposition last season.

The last time they met, it was a 5-2 success for the lads with goals from Conor McAleny, Alfie McCalmont and Carl Piergianni coming before a stoppage time brace from Davis Keillor-Dunn to make sure of all three points at Boundary Park.

In the reverse fixture, a spirited comeback saw Oldham manage to overturn a deficit twice to claim a point in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

McAleny found the net twice, with one of those being an 89^th minute equaliser and Piergianni scored the other.

Latics fans may remember the game as being the first time that they got to see the magic of Dylan Bahamboula who changed the game following his introduction to the match.

Watch Out For

31-year-old forward Freddie Sears is a new arrival for the U’s.

Freddie Sears.jpg

Starting his career with West Ham United, Sears spent plenty time away on loan with various clubs before moving on a permanent basis to Colchester in 2012.

After a successful loan spell with the club, Sears joined the club proper ahead of the 2012/13 season and enjoyed a fruitful stint with the club before making the move back into the Championship with Ipswich Town.

With the Tractor boys, Sears played over 200 times and scored 34 goals.

After over five years of service, Sears time with Ipswich came to an end and upon his release he resigned for former club Colchester United.

Last time out, Sears registered his first goal of his second spell with the club and he will be hoping to add to his tally when the U’s travel north to Boundary Park.

In The Dugout

Hayden Mullins is the man in the visitors’ dugout.

Hayden Mullins.jpg

As a player, Mullins represented a few clubs at the top level including Crystal Palace and West Ham United.

Colchester is his first permanent posting in football management but he has also been interim boss at Watford on more than one occasion.

Mullins was appointed boss in March 2021 and was later given the job on a full time basis in May.

Match Officials

The man in the middle is Samuel Barrott.

Samuel Barrott.jpg

His last fixture in charge of Latics arrived in December 2020 as we lost 2-1 at Boundary Park against Sunderland in the Papa John's Trophy and he handed out three yellow cards.

He took charge of 32 games last campaign, handing out a total of 86 yellow cards and four red cards.

He will be assisted by Paul Newhouse and Bradley Hall, with Martin Woods as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

The bookies are clearly predicting and even clash between the two sides as both clubs are priced up at 8/5 to get their first win of the campaign.

9/4 is the price on offer for the draw.

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

How To Follow The Game

Live commentary is available on iFollow Latics with Roy Butterworth and Michael Brown who will be talking you through the match.

The iFollow video match pass is available for overseas residents only. Please note there will be no match pass available for UK residents on iFollow now it is no longer taking place behind-closed-doors alongside the Saturday 3pm blackout enforced by the footballing governing bodies.

For more information, visit the iFollow Latics page.

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

The Roger Palmer Fans Bar situated on Furtherwood Road is open again on the day of the match from midday.

Showing live Premier League matches before and after the fixture, the bar will close at 8pm and has matchday deals on selected beers and spirits.

Match Reports

Latics 1-2 Colchester United

21 August 2021

Latics continue the search for their first points of the season as Hayden Mullins’ men take the victory back to Essex.

In the opening 15 minutes, Oldham found themselves two-nil behind as Freddie Sears netted from the spot before Noah Chilvers drilled a low strike into the bottom corner. Dylan Bahamboula managed to pull a goal back in the 74^th minute, but Latics couldn’t found a much-needed equaliser.

The hosts were given a lift as Boundary Park welcomed back Keith Curle to the dugout after Head Coach contracted Covid-19. Upon his return, the gaffer named three changes with the introduction of midfielder Faysal Bettache, who arrived on loan from QPR in midweek.

Latics endured a horrific start to the encounter as they found themselves trailing after just nine minutes. Davis Keillor-Dunn dwelled on the ball for too long inside his own area before he was adjusted to have brought Brendan Wiredu down inside the box, a very harsh decision. Sears stepped up and expertly slotted to the bottom corner, making it two goals from spot in two games for the former West Ham United attacker.

To add to this, the U’s doubled their advantage to the frustration of the home faithful. Chilvers, an academy product, fiercely dribbled at the Latics backline with space opening up for him to drill a low effort into the far corner before reeling away in celebration.

Oldham should’ve been level when Keillor-Dunn raced one-on-one with the goalkeeper, however, the attack-minded individual blasted his effort straight at Shamal George and he comfortably steered it behind.

Following that, Hallam Hope work rate was exemplified as he latched onto a loose back pass from Luke Chambers, but the attacker couldn’t score his first goal in the blue of Latics as the ‘keeper denied him inside the box before Keillor-Dunn smashed the rebound way over the crossbar.

The gaffer looked for a reaction in the second-half as he brought academy products Harry Vaughan and Junior Luamba on as they replaced Nicky Adams and Keillor-Dunn.

Neither outfit could create any clear-cut chances within 15 minutes of the restart, Alan Judge had the only noteworthy moment when he received possession on the edge of the area before he smashed his effort over the target.

In the 74^th minute, Latics were handed a lifeline when Bahamboula found the back of the net. Substitute Vaughan showcased impressive dribbling as he beat numerous defenders on the right-hand side before picking out the Congo international and he cleverly smashed his strike into the far corner which sparked belief around the ground.

Miles Welch-Hayes raced down the right flank before he delivered to Cameron Coxe and the Solihull Moors loanee produced a goal-bound glancing header, however, Laurie Walker shifted across his goal line well to deny him with the clock frustratingly running down for the home side.

Oldham Athletic XI – Walker (GK), Adams (Vaughan 46’), Clarke, Piergianni ©, Sheehan, Hart, Bettache, Cisse (Diarra 54’), Keillor-Dunn (Luamba 46’), Bahamboula, Hope.

Subs: Danielewicz (GK), Fage, Whelan, Dearnley.

Goals: Bahamboula 74’

Colchester United XI – George (GK), Welch-Hayes, Chambers, Smith ©, Wiredu, Nouble, Judge, Sears (Hannant 76’), Chilvers (Kennedy 80’), Jasper (Coxe 82’), Daniels.

Subs: Turner (GK), Tchamadeu, Tovide, Beadle.

Goals: Sears 9’, Chilvers 13’

Attendance: 3,496 (187 away)

Referee – Samuel Barrott