Latics vs. Bristol Rovers

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 28

7 February 2022

Latics are back in action tomorrow night as they face Bristol Rovers at Boundary Park in Sky Bet League Two (7:45pm KO).

John Sheridan’s men will be boosted by the win over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park and will be hoping to make it consecutive victories this time around.

Substitute Junior Luamba had a winning impact, supplying the smart finish to score the only goal of the game in the 83^rd minute.

Form Guide

Bristol Rovers come into this game on a good run of form in the league.

Unbeaten in their previous six league meetings in a sequence that has yielded four wins and two draws.

This is a run that was preserved by a late Anthony Evans spot-kick to earn a point away at the high-flying Sutton United.

Rovers are mid-table in League Two, occupying 13^th place currently but they do have games in hand on most of their immediate rivals which could see their standings look more appealing.

Elsewhere, they recently saw their Emirates FA Cup journey come to an end as they lost out 2-1 to League One outfit Peterborough United in the Third Round of the competition a month ago.

The Gas’ Last Six:

Sutton United 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers 1-0 Walsall
Scunthorpe United 2-3 Bristol Rovers
Swindon Town 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers 2-0 Hartlepool United
Peterborough United 2-1 Bristol Rovers (FA Cup 3^rd round)

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 61

Latics wins: 20
Bristol Rovers wins: 26
Draws: 15

In the third game of the current season, the two sides met at the Memorial Stadium.

The game was decided by a headed Harvey Saunders effort that saw Latics leave empty-handed and still pointless in League Two.

Prior to that, you have to go back to the 2017/18 season for the last time the two clubs met where Oldham picked up four points from the available six.

At Boundary Park, a Craig Davies equaliser earned Latics a point whilst goals from Jack Byrne, Davies, and Eoin Doyle saw them claim a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture.

Watch Out For

The signing of highly-rated youngster Elliot Anderson on loan from Newcastle United looks to be a real coup for Rovers.

Elliot Anderson.jpg

There has been plenty of interest in acquiring the services of Anderson including some from sides in higher divisions.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has been on the periphery of the Magpies’ squad for a little time now and the move will see him gain first-team action.

To date, he has played twice for Newcastle, both at the Emirates against Arsenal. The first was an FA Cup tie before he later made his Premier League debut.

Appearing for the first time for Rovers in the 1-1 draw at Sutton, Anderson impressed and contributed to his side taking a point from the game.

Born in the North East of England, Anderson also has Scottish heritage and has lined up for youth sides of both the England and Scotland national teams at various age groups.

In The Dugout

Joey Barton is the man in the dugout for the visitors.

Joey Barton - Two.jpg

He's enjoying his second job in football management since his retirement, but he was unable to prevent Rovers’ relegation last season from League One.

His other posting came with Fleetwood Town in the third tier of English football.

The Merseyside-born manager also has a distinguished playing career that saw him play for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Marseille, Burnley, and Rangers.

He can also boast a solitary England cap to his name, which he picked up from the bench in a 1-0 defeat to Spain back in 2007.

Match Officials

The official in the middle for the game is Scott Oldham.

Scott Oldham.jpg

Oldham last officiated a Latics game in August 2021 for the Carabao Cup victory against Tranmere Rovers at Boundary Park. On that day, he handed out two yellow cards and zero red cards.

He's taken charge of 24 games, so far, this campaign, handing out a total of 72 yellow cards and two red cards.

Oldham will be assisted by Mark Cunliffe and David Hunt, with Ian Smedley as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

In form, Rovers are unsurprisingly favourites to win the game and are 13/10 to come away from Boundary Park with maximum points.

Latics on the other hand are 2/1 to make it back-to-back league victories.

9/4 is the price on offer for the game to end in a draw.

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

How To Follow The Game

Live match action on the £10 'match pass' is available on iFollow Latics in the UK and overseas for supporters who can't attend in person, with Roy Butterworth and Michael Brown talking you through the match action.

For more information, visit the iFollow Latics page by clicking here.

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

Match Reports

Latics 2-1 Bristol Rovers

8 February 2022

Latics made it back-to-back wins after producing a thoroughly professional performance against an in-form Bristol Rovers.

Davis Keillor-Dunn made an instant impact as he fired the opening goal of the match inside the first minute with an empathic finish whilst clean through on goal.

After Junior Luamba’s strike was disallowed, Keillor-Dunn doubled his own, and his side’s, tally for the evening as he neatly found the bottom corner from close range which further lifted the atmosphere.

Bristol Rovers responded just before half-time when Sam Nicholson, from an acute angle, slotted his low strike into the back of the net, but Latics demonstrated great solidity to hold on for the win.

At the weekend, John Sherodan's side produced a dramatic victory against Scunthorpe United and the manager made two changes to his line-up, as Dylan Bahamboula and Junior Luamba returned to the side.

Unfortunately, Mike Fondop missed out through concussion protocol following sustaining a head injury last time out. Tope Obadeyi was also unavailable for the encounter as he struggled with his fitness after returning to action on Saturday.

Latics’ last triumph over the visitors on home turf was back in April 2010 as Lewis Guy and Deane Smalley found the target in order to secure a 2-0 scoreline with the current squad endeavouring for a similar outcome after they opened the scoring inside a minute.

A defensive mistake allowed Nicky Adams to play Keillor-Dunn through one-on-one with Anssi Jaakola and Oldham’s talisman remained composed as he smashed his attempt past the ‘keeper into the roof of the net.

Moments later, Luamba, coming into the game full of confidence, thought that he’d made it two goals in as many games for himself after slotting inside the near post, however, the assistant had already raised his flag. It was a very tight call.

Aaron Collins - who has previously played under Shez - ran riot at Boundary Park in the final encounter of last season for Forest Green Rovers, and he demonstrated his quality when he adjusted his body on the edge of the area to steer a low effort towards the bottom corner, but he was excellently denied by Danny Rogers.

With the Athleticos creating an electric atmosphere in the terraces, Bahamboula strived to entertain with a trademark individual piece of brilliance. The flamboyant attacker glided past a defender before cutting inside to try his luck from 30 yards out, but the shot-stopper produced a fine save to keep him at bay.

From the resulting corner, Shez witnessed his side double their lead courtesy of Keillor-Dunn again. Adams delivered a pinpoint corner to Carl Piergianni, and then, the towering skipper directed the ball into the path of his team-mate, and he managed to tap in from inside the six-yard box.

Visiting manager Joey Barton will have adapted his half-time team talk as his side pulled a goal back just before the interval. Fresh off the bench, Nicholson persisted with possession as he kept his cool from a tight angle as he placed a low effort under the goalkeeper which gave the travelling contingent a glimmer of hope.

Early in the second half, Adams continued to torment their backline with his instrumental crossing ability. Callum Whelan illustrated immense vision to produce a reserve pass towards the veteran on the left-hand side, but Christopher Missilou couldn’t make any contact on his delivery across the face of goal.

Keillor-Dunn forced his way down the right-flank before he crossed towards Luamba, the forward contrived a glancing header that looked bound for the goal, however, Jaakola, remarkably, tipped his attempt over his crossbar.

In the 79th minute, controversy arrived as the referee failed to award Latics a goal which sparked frustration amongst the home crowd. Whelan cannoned an effort off the crossbar before it bounced over the line - players reeled away in celebration - but the official declared it not to be a goal.

As the final whistle neared, Bahamboula dribbled to the byline, and then, expertly pulled it back to Adams, however, his effort, that lacked conviction, went straight at the goalkeeper to his relief.

The visitors were gifted a free-kick with minutes to spare after Jordan Clarke tripped up Sam Finlay in a dangerous position. Luke Thomas stepped up to take the free-kick, but his well-struck set-piece was tipped over the crossbar by Rogers as Bristol Rovers tasted defeat for the first-time since the start of December.

Oldham Athletic: Rogers, Clarke, Hart, McGahey, Piergianni (c), Adams, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn, Bahamboula, Missilou, Luamba (Hunt 83’).

Unused Subs: Leutwiler, Fage, Da Silva, Hopcutt, Couto.

Goals: Keillor-Dunn 1’, 31’

Bristol Rovers: Jaakola, Finley, Collins, E.Anderson (H.Anderson 74’), Coutts (c), Anderton (Thomas 65’), Connolly, Evans (Nicholson 24’), Saunders, Harries, Hoole.

Unused Subs: Ward, Spence, Whelan.

Goals: Nicholson 44’

Attendance: 5,137 (372 away)

Referee: Scott Oldham