Latics vs. Leyton Orient

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 39

29 March 2022

Latics welcome Leyton Orient to Boundary Park for a midweek Sky Bet League Two encounter (7:45pm KO).

Oldham will have to pick themselves up following another late goal that condemned them to defeat.

They took the lead against Mansfield Town through Davis Keillor-Dunn but second-half strikes from the Stags saw Latics go empty handed.

Form Guide

Orient come into this game on an excellent run of form that has seen them climb up the league table.

Now seven without a loss in the league, the O’s have also won their previous three games, conceding just one goal in the process.

The first four games in this seven-game unbeaten sequence all ended level.

This is a remarkable upturn in form for them as before they turned Rochdale over 3-1, they had gone 15 League Two games without tasting a victory.

This was a run that saw them briefly seen as potential relegation candidates but they now sit much more comfortably in 17^th place.

The O’s Last Six:

Leyton Orient 2-0 Barrow
Harrogate Town 0-3 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient 3-1 Rochdale
Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Leyton Orient
Hartlepool United 0-0 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient 2-2 Stevenage

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 68

Latics wins: 26
Leyton Orient wins: 22
Draws: 20

Scored - 97
Conceded - 76

Latics have lost each of the previous three clashes against Orient.

They have also won none of the last six versus them with their last win in the fixture coming in the Emirates FA Cup in November 2014.

The last time that Oldham managed to pick up three points against Orient in the league came back in October 2012 when Latics triumphed 2-0 at Boundary Park in a Sky Bet League One game.

Ten unsuccessful attempts to beat the O’s in the league have followed since. On the day in question, the game was decided by two second-half goals. Matt Derbyshire and Jose Baxter were on target in the 2-0 win.

Watch Out For

Ruel Sotiriou is a man in fine form for the visitors.

Ruel Sotiriou.jpg

The 21-year-old is a product of the youth set-up at Orient.

He has been a vitally important part of their current resurgence. In the aforementioned seven-game unbeaten run that they are currently enjoying, Sotiriou has bagged six goals, managing one in each game other than the goalless draw at Hartlepool.

The impressive run is the first real one he has had for the O’s and he will be looking to continue his rich vein of form when he and his side make the journey north to take on Latics.

He has had a host of different loan moves since he made his Orient debut in October 2017 in an Emirates FA Cup clash against Dagenham and Redbridge.

Internationally, Sotiriou has represented Cyprus at youth level. He has been capped by both the under 19 and 21 sides.

In The Dugout & Familiar Face

Former Latics boss Richie Wellens is in the dugout for the visitors.

Richie Wellens.jpg

The 42-year-old has been in charge at Brisbane Road since the 9^th of March of this year and has had an immediate impact on the fortunes of the football club.

He inherited a squad that was bang out of form and just four points clear of the relegation zone.

Since he has not lost a game and they sit in a considerably healthier league position.

A former Latics midfielder, his managerial career started at the 'boys in blue' and he has since taken charge at Swindon Town, Salford City and Doncaster Rovers before taking on the role with the O’s.

Match Officials

The official in the middle for the game is Christopher Sarginson.

Toner last officiated a Latics game in January 2021 for our 3-2 win against Newport County at Boundary Park. On that day, he handed out four yellow cards and one red card.

He's taken charge of 29 games, so far, this campaign, handing out a total of 96 yellow cards and three red cards.

Toner will be assisted by Paul Newhouse and Hristo Karaivanov, with Gary Hilton as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Orient are currently evens to take all three points at Boundary Park.

Latics are in desperate need for a win and 5/2 is the price on offer for them to claim one.

The draw is 12/5.

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

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

28032022 iFollow Match Pass Leyton Orient

28 March 2022

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 due to the international break.

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 2-0 Leyton Orient

29 March 2022

Latics earned a colossal three points on home turf as they overcame an in-form opposition with a professional display.

A dominant first-half performance was rewarded with a goal as Nicky Adams’ floated cross got turned into his own net by George Ray.

Although the second interval played out more evenly, Oldham sealed the win in added time when Harry Vaughan demonstrated composure and vision to send Callum Whelan on his way, and with the goal at his mercy, he tapped the ball over the line.

A highly-anticipated affair, Shez made two changes to his starting XI as Richie Wellens brought the O’s to Boundary Park for a rearranged Sky Bet League Two encounter. Sam Hart and Christopher Missilou returned to the side which meant that Benny Couto and Dylan Bahamboula dropped to the bench.

An early moment of note arrived as the host applied pressure down the right-flank before Jack Stobbs received possession on the edge of the area, he unleashed a scuffed effort that deflected off Otis Khan – born in Ashton-under-Lyne – and it temporarily panicked Lawrence Vigouroux, but the Chilean international managed to hold onto the ball.

Adams, an experienced professional that leads by example, constantly contrived to make things happen in the final third which was exemplified when he delivered onto the head of Davis Keillor-Dunn with the attacker somehow missing the target from close range.

Then, the 35-year-old coolly dribbled past a defender on the edge of the area before he fiercely struck goalwards, however, the shot-stopper stood tall and was counted for as he gathered his attempt.

With the Latics faithful firmly backing the players, Shez’s outfit deservedly broke the deadlock in the 33^rd minute. Once again, Adams caused his former employer havoc on the left-hand side, and this time, he fizzed a cross into a dangerous area which resulted in Ray turning into his own net.

After the restart, the visitors strived to even the scoreline and they were nearly level just eight minutes into the second-half. Ruel Sotiriou, who’s netted six goals in seven games, found himself one-on-one with Danny Rogers, but the shot-stopper produced a vital flick to steer the low effort away from the far corner.

Adams’ precise corner delivery found Carl Piergianni inside the six-yard box, however, the towering skipper directs his thunderous header over Vigouroux’s crossbar.

The hosts believed that they should’ve been awarded a penalty-kick as Sam Hart sprinted into the box before he was tripped, the players, dugout and supporters appealed, but the referee waved away the protests.

In added time, the three points were secured as Vigouroux went up for a corner, the hosts counter-attacked which was led by Vaughan, he placed Whelan through on an empty goal and the midfielder slotted over the line for his first professional goal.

Appreciatively, the final whistle sounded which meant that Latics held onto maximum points for the first-time in over a month of action.

Oldham Athletic XI – Rogers (GK), Clarke, Hart, Piergianni ©, Adams (Hunt 82’), Whelan, Hope, Keillor-Dunn, Stobbs (Vaughan 55’), Missilou, Sutton.

Unused Subs: Leutwiler (GK), Diarra, Bahamboula, Hopcutt, Couto.

Goals: Ray O.G. 33’, Whelan 95’

Leyton Orient XI – Vigouroux (GK), Wood, Smyth, Smith (Brown 70’), Nouble (Drinan 56’), Khan, Beckles ©, Sotiriou, Kyprianou, Coleman (Pratley 60’), Ray.

Unused Subs: Sargeant (GK), Young, Ogie, Nkrumah.

Attendance: 4,619 (209 away)

Referee – Christopher Sarginson