Oldham Athletic travel to Blundell Park this Saturday afternoon to take on Grimsby Town (3pm kick off).
Latics will be looking to bounce back from last week’s home defeat against Newport County AFC, but they still sit just one point off the playoff spots.
Our hosts for the weekend are struggling in 21st in the league having picked up just five points from the opening seven games.
Grimsby come into the game off the back of a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Bury and without a league win since the second game of the season.
However, they have picked up points against two of the top teams in the division in the shape of Lincoln City and MK Dons, so manager Frankie Bunn is not taking them lightly, despite the need for a reaction from his side.
“I expect a reaction from them because they're at home, but I'm wanting to see a reaction from us as well so even though we performed well we were disappointed with the result and it's something we want to put right.” He said.
“I thought we were really good against Newport although it wasn't the result we wanted, but we performed really well, we were five unbeaten so we're looking to bounce back as quickly as possible and get back to winning ways.”
Latics will most likely have the same squad that was involved against Newport, although Bunn has said that a couple of the long-term absentees are back on the grass training.
The last time the sides met was back in February 2004 where Latics ran out 6-0 winners at Boundary Park with Scott Vernon netting a hat-trick.
In the reserve fixture earlier in that season the game finished 3-3 which was our last visit to Blundell Park.
Grimsby have been boosted with the news that Captain John Welsh could play a part this Saturday after being substituted with a back problem last week against Bury.
However, they will still be without several first teamers with Reece Hall-Johnson, Paul Dixon, Andrew Fox, Elliott Whitehouse and Harry Cardwell all unlikely to feature.
There could be a familiar face in the Grimsby squad with Ben Pringle still yet to make his debut for Michael Jolley’s side, although he has only been in training in a bid to up his fitness.
Pringle spent the second half last season on loan at Boundary Park making 15 appearances and scoring the equaliser in the 2-2 draw away at Bury.
Oldham Athletic are priced at 6/4 to take home the three points this Saturday.
Sam Rosbottom and Roy Butterworth will be on commentary on iFollow Latics for supporters who cannot make the game.
To subscribe to the iFollow Latics click this link.