Latics vs. Hartlepool United

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday Eight

17 September 2021

Latics welcome the newly promoted Hartlepool United to Boundary Park as they continue their Sky Bet League Two campaign (3pm KO).

Keith Curle’s side will be looking to bounce back from a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Leyton Orient last time out.

Form Guide

Hartlepool United have enjoyed an impressive start on their return to the Football League.

With four wins from their opening seven league games, Pool find themselves in fifth place, just one point away from an automatic promotion place.

They did fall to a 1-0 defeat to Sutton United last time out, so they will be hoping to make a return to winning ways at Oldham to continue their strong start to the season.

Pools Last Six:

Sutton United 1-0 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Hartlepool United
Carlisle United 3-3 Harlepool United (EFL Trophy – lost on pens)
Hartlepool United 2-1 Carlisle United
Hartlepool United 2-0 Walsall

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 68

Latics wins: 33
Hartlepool United wins: 22
Draws: 13

Scored - 116
Conceded - 96

Latics have won each of the last three meetings between the two clubs.

They haven’t met since March 2013, where Oldham triumphed 3-0 at Boundary Park in a League One fixture which was Lee Johnson's first game in charge of Latics.

First half goals from Robbie Simpson and Jean-Yves M’Voto got the hosts off to a great start before Jose Baxter wrapped it up in the second half.

You have to go back to boxing day 2011 for the last time Hartlepool United got the better of Oldham. An early goal from James Poole saw the visitors claim all three points at Boundary Park.

Watch Out For

Luke Molyneux has played in each of Hartlepool’s opening seven league games.

Luke Molyneux.jpg

Starting his career on Wearside with Sunderland, Molyneux managed to make his way into the first team side six times before departing the club on loan.

His first loan move saw him go to fellow North East side Gateshead. He scored three times in 18 games in the first half of the 2018/19 season before returning to his parent club.

However, it was another loan move for Molyneux rather than a shot at the first team at the Stadium of Light.

He spent the second half of the season at Pools and his performances were enough to convince them to make the deal permanent following his release from Sunderland.

Molyneux was part of the side that secured Hartlepool’s promotion last season and he helped his side out by scoring his penalty in the shootout success against Torquay United.

So far this season, he has one goal to his name, but he will be hoping to contribute further with United’s two top scorers this season Tyler Burey and Gavan Holohan both likely to miss the game due to injury.

In The Dugout

Dave Challinor is the man in the dugout for the visitors.

Dave Challinor.jpg

The 45-year-old took the job in November 2019 and his first full season at Victoria Park ended in success as they overcame Bromley, Stockport County and Torquay United in the playoffs following their fourth placed finish.

He has also previously managed Colwyn Bay and AFC Fylde whilst as a player he represented Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, Bury and Colwyn Bay.

Match Officials

The man in the middle for the game is Charles Breakspear.

Charles Breakspear.jpg

His last fixture in charge of Latics arrived in September 2020 as we lost 3-0 away at Stevenage and he handed out zero red cards as well as two yellow cards.

He's taken charge of eight games, so far, this campaign, handing out a total of 27 yellow cards and two red cards.

Breakspear will be assisted by Hristo Karaivanov and Lisa Rashid, with Peter Gooch the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Hartlepool United are 13/10 favourites to win their fifth game of the season whilst Latics are 19/10 to manage to bounce back from the 4-0 defeat at Brisbane Road.

23/10 is the price 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

Match Reports

Latics 0-0 Hartlepool United

18 September 2021

Latics earn a well-fought point against a resolute Hartlepool United outfit at Boundary Park.

Oldham should’ve been ahead when Hallam Hope forced Ben Killip into a fine stop before his rebound was incredibly cleared off the line by a defender.

Former Salford City midfielder Mark Shelton nearly broke the deadlock when Jamie Sterry’s delivery found him inside the box, but his header cannoned off the post.

Both sides had opportunities to find a winner late on, however, both defences prevailed resulting in a share of the points.

Keith Curle named three changes for the game against Hartlepool after a disappointing result away at Leyton Orient last weekend. Dylan Bahamboula, Alan Sheehan and Callum Whelan all returned to the side.

On a warm afternoon in Greater Manchester, the boys in blue should’ve taken the lead in the seventh minute through Hope. The forward initially forced the goalkeeper into a fine save from his effort on the edge of the box before the ball landed kindly for him with the goal at his mercy, however, Zaine Francis-Angol raced back to clear his second attempt off the line.

Nicky Featherstone, wearing the armband for the visitors, drilled a low effort goalwards from outside the penalty area, but Jayson Leutwiler comfortably denied the former Hull City man.

In the 40^th minute, Dave Challinor’s men were very close to taking a lead before the interval. Sterry, a transfer target for Latics in the summer, delivered a pinpoint cross to Shelton in the box, but the midfielder could only steer his header against the post.

Following that, Davis Keillor-Dunn managed to tee up the onrushing Jordan Clarke on the edge of the box, but to the frustration of the supporters, the right-back smashed his attempt into the stand.

Mike Fondop joined the Pools during midweek and he could’ve made an instant impact as he nearly found himself on the scoresheet when he volleyed wide of the target from David Ferguson’s cross.

Early into the second-half, Hope won possession towards the halfway line which allowed him to dribble goalwards, he cut inside from the left-wing before curling just past the far post.

Latics went in search of an opener and nearly got their rewards as Whelan raced into the box before blasting the ball across the face of goal, however, Hope and Keillor-Dunn couldn’t get on the end of the cross with an open net in front of them.

Carl Piergianni led by example when he bravely blocked Lee Molyneux’s strike from inside the six-yard box which looked destined to find the back of the net with the Hartlepool faithful already celebrating.

Later on, Fondop produced an excellent bicycle kick inside the Latics area and it nearly found its way into the far corner. Molyneux drove forwards with intent before his powerful low effort was easily saved by Leutwiler.

The hosts had two opportunities at the end of the match to earn three points, firstly, substitute Jamie Bowden dragged his strike just past the far post. In added time, Hope blasted a low cross into a dangerous area, but Gary Liddle managed to put in a vital block to keep Latics at bay.

Oldham Athletic XI – Leutwiler (GK), Clarke, Piergianni ©, Whelan (Bowden 71’), Hope, Keillor-Dunn (Vaughan 71’), Jameson, Diarra, Bahamboula, Bettache (Dearnley 84’), Sheehan.

Subs: Danielewicz (GK), Fage, Da Silva, Couto.

Hartlepool United XI – Killip (GK), Sterry, Ferguson (Ogle 73’), Liddle, Shelton, Featherstone ©, Molyneux, Byrne, Francis-Angol, Olomola (Cook 57’), Fondop.

Subs: Mitchell (GK), Odusina, Goodwin, Smith, Daly.

Attendance: 3,934 (946 away)

Referee – Charles Breakspear