Latics vs. Rochdale

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 26

28 January 2022

Latics welcome Rochdale to Boundary Park for a crucial derby fixture in Sky Bet League Two (3pm KO).

The game marks the return of John Sheridan to the home dugout, and he'll be hoping to have an immediate impact on proceedings following last week's 3-0 defeat against Harrogate Town.

Oldham are on their hunt for their first victory since December when they won 1-0 away at Sunderland in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Form Guide

Club News

28012022 Ernie Cooksey Trophy Against Rochdale

28 January 2022

Rochdale come into the game on the back of one win in nine games across all competitions.

Their last outing saw a goalless draw against Bradford City.

They have struggled for goals of late, drawing blanks in their previous two outings. This is possibly due to the recent departure of Jake Beesley.

Beesley had scored four times in the two games before that came before him joining Sky Bet Championship side Blackpool for an undisclosed fee.

They will be looking to end a poor run of form that has seen them lose four from their last six.

Dale’s Last Six:

Rochdale 0-0 Bradford City
Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Rochdale
Rochdale 3-0 Newport County
Bristol Rovers 4-2 Rochdale
Hartlepool United 2-1 Rochdale
Rochdale 1-2 Plymouth Argyle (FA Cup)

Meetings: 61

Latics wins: 24
Rochdale wins: 18
Draws: 19

Scored: 91
Conceded: 74

When the clubs met earlier on in the season at Spotland, it was a derby delight for Latics.

A superb strike from Davis Keillor-Dunn just before the hour mark turned out to be the winning goal to send the travelling fans home in a jubilant mood.

Latics have lost none of the previous four league outings against their local rivals, with Dale’s most recent win in the fixture coming in the EFL Trophy in December 2018.

Watch Out For

Recent signing Tahvon Campbell is the man looking to fill the spot left vacant following the departure of Beesley.

Tahvon Campbell.jpeg

Arriving in a deal from Vanarama National League outfit Woking, the 25-year-old forward will be looking to continue his fine start to the season in the league above.

The Birmingham-born goal scorer has an impressive 13 to his name in just 21 appearances for his previous club, which has helped them to a respectable 12^th place finish.

Starting his career at West Bromwich Albion, his other permanent clubs have been Forest Green Rovers and Cheltenham Town as well as a string of loan moves.

His new gaffer described him as quick and dynamic whilst also addressing their need to replace goals within his side.

In The Dugout

Robbie Stockdale is the man in the dugout for the visitors.

Robbie Stockdale - Two.jpg

This is the Redcar-born manager’s first permanent posting in football, but he has got caretaker experience at Grimsby Town and Sunderland.

The 41-year-old came through the ranks at Middlesbrough as a player and also turned out for Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United, Rotherham United, Hull City, Darlington, Tranmere Rovers and Grimsby.

He was also capped five times by the Scotland national team.

Match Officials

The official in the middle for the game is Darren Drysdale.

Darren Drysdale.jpg

Drysdale last officiated a Latics game in March 2021 as we suffered defeat against Leyton Orient at The Breyer Group Stadium. On that day, he handed out four yellow cards and zero red cards.

He's taken charge of 20 games, so far, this campaign, handing out a total of 74 yellow cards and three red cards.

Drysdale will be assisted by Declan Ford and Matthew Smith, with James Oldham as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Latics have been priced at 2/1 favourites to mark the return of John Sheridan by claiming a huge three points in the northwest derby.

Dale are priced at 5/4 to get revenge for Oldham’s 1-0 win at Spotland earlier on in the campaign whilst the draw is 23/10.

A repeat of the 1-0 success is available at 17/2.

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

How To Follow The Game

Club News

29012022 Boundary Bulletin Rochdale

28 January 2022

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

Unfortunately, an iFollow match pass stream isn't available in the UK due to the 3pm blackout from broadcasters.

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 0-0 Rochdale

29 January 2022

Upon his return to Latics, John Sheridan picked-up a point in a local derby against Rochdale and, as a result, retained the Ernie Cooksey Trophy.

The best chance of the first-half arrived when Max Clark’s cross found Paul Downing inside the area, but the former Portsmouth man guided his header wide of the target.

After the interval, Corey O’Keeffe galloped down the touchline before he fired a cross into a dangerous area towards Clark, although he could only flick wide of goal at the back post.

With minutes left, Christopher Missilou nearly became the hero for the hosts as he ran past a defender to get into the box, and then from an acute angle, tried his luck, however, it didn’t find the top corner.

Latics entered the Sky Bet League Two fixture with an abundance of optimism after Sheridan announced his return to his beloved club which resulted in a boost of ticket sales and, more importantly, a lift in spirits across the town.

The idolised figure opted for three changes from our lacklustre defeat against Harrogate Town last weekend. Danny Rogers, Harrison McGahey and Missilou were named in the starting XI as the new gaffer implemented a 3-5-2 system on the turf of Boundary Park.

Early into the first-half, the referee temporarily suspended the match following a medical emergency in the upper Main Stand. After 19 minutes, thankfully, it's believed that the supporter was in a stable condition as they were taken to hospital. We send our best wishes and hope that they make a full recovery.

After the referee allowed play to resume, the hosts demonstrated a great piece of play which resulted in Alex Hunt switching the ball to Sam Hart on the left-hand side before he raced forward, but his shot was bravely blocked by Downing.

Rochdale – with two former Oldham players in their line-up – had the only real opportunities of the note in the opening exchanges. First, Clark delivered a pinpoint cross towards Downing, however, the experienced defender steered his header wide of the target.

Just before the interval, Clark found himself in a promising position inside the final third before he sliced his strike across goal which failed to trouble the Latics shot-stopper.

Straight after the restart, O’Keeffe sprinted down the right-flank, and then, drilled a delivery across the face of goal to Clark, but he flicked wide of the target at the back post to the relief of the backline.

Once again, Downing proved to be an important physical presence from set-pieces for Dale and, this time, his looping header looked destined for the far corner, but fortunately, his attempt went past the post.

Latics managed to create an attack of their own, although it wouldn’t have had Joel Coleman, a well-respected product of Latics’ academy, worried as Missilou’s uncontrolled effort sailed over the crossbar.

Following that, Hart powered his way down the left-wing before delivering onto the head of Dylan Bahamboula inside the six-yard box, however, the man leading the line directed his header past the far post.

In added time, Missilou illustrated great determination as he forced his way into the penalty area before powerfully striking goalwards, however, it went just wide to the frustration of the supporters.

Sheridan barked orders from the dugout to his side for them to attack the visitors with minutes to spare in order to retrieve something from the encounter, but unfortunately, they couldn’t break the deadlock.

Oldham Athletic XI – Rogers (GK), Adams, Clarke, Piergianni ©, McGahey, Hart, Missilou, Whelan, Hunt (Stobbs 58’), Bahamboula, Keillor-Dunn (Hopcutt 70’).

Unused Subs: Southerington (GK), Fage, Couto, Vaughan, Simms.

Rochdale XI – Coleman (GK), O’Keeffe, O’Connell ©, Dooley, Newby (Odoh 81’), Grant, Dorsett, Broadbent, Downing, Clark, Campbell.

Unused Subs: Lynch (GK), White, McNulty, Taylor, Done, Cashman.

Attendance: 8,199 (2,014 away)

Referee – Darren Drysdale