Latics are looking to put four winless games behind them when they welcome Newport County to Boundary Park tomorrow afternoon (3pm KO).
Maamria will be encouraged as his side have not lost at Boundary Park since the 2-0 defeat by Scunthorpe United on New Year's Day.
Form Guide
Neither side go into the game in good form, the Exiles have won one of their last six Sky Bet League Two games with Latics only winning two of their last six.
Newport have lost their last four games on the road whereas Oldham are undefeated in four on home soil.
The Exiles' last six:
- Newport County 0-1 Cambridge United
- Newport County 0-0 Walsall
- Mansfield Town 1-0 Newport County
- Newport County 0-1 Salford City (EFL Trophy)
- Newport County 2-1 Bradford City
- Grimsby Town 4-2 Newport County
Head-to-Head
Latics have won six of the 11 meetings between the two clubs, drawing two and losing three.
With Oldham getting the better of County when they met earlier in the season at Rodney Parade.
Newport County 0-1 Oldham Athletic - 23rd November 2019
Dino Maamria's side grabbed all three points at the Tunisian's old stomping ground.
Zak Mills scored the only goal of the game in added-on time at end of the first-half that made sure of the first win on the road since the 24th of August.
League Story So Far
Newport have been unable to replicate last season's success that saw them make it to the play-off final.
They did enjoy a solid start to the campaign and won seven of their opening 16 league games of the season prior to the first meeting between the clubs this season. This start left them just one point outside of the play-off places with games in hand over the side above them in the table. However, they then went on a run of seven games without a win that started with Latics’ 1-0 triumph at Rodney Parade.
Going into 2020, County's form showed encouraging signs as they won three of their five games in the New Year.
They are currently 16th in the league table, three places and five points better off than Latics going into the game.
Watch Out For
County’s danger man and top scorer is Padraig Amond.
Amond has 12 goals for the Exiles this season which is double the amount that their next top scorer has (Jamille Matt). Amond averages a goal every 215 minutes on the pitch and has also contributed with two assists. The forward has been involved in an impressive 32% of all goals scored by Newport this season.
The Irish striker arrived at Rodney Parade from Hartlepool United in 2017 and was an immediate success, becoming the club’s top scorer in his debut season. In the last campaign, Amond excelled again in the colours of Newport, grabbing 24 goals and winning County’s Player of the Year award.
During his time with the club, he has scored some huge goals most notably in the FA Cup. He boasts strikes against Middlesbrough, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City on his footballing CV and recently made it to the 50 goal milestone for the Amber Army.
Team News
It is expected that Gary Woods may be absent in the Latics goal again after suffering a thigh injury last weekend that has disrupted his training and is doubtful as a result.
Whilst Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is expected to make a return to the starting XI.
Newport were boosted by the return of George Nurse on Tuesday, following a time out injured.
Their Captain Joss Labadie will miss the game after picking up a suspension against Grimsby Town.
Familiar Faces
Current Brisbane Roar forward Aaron Amadi-Holloway has played for both clubs.
The Cardiff born attacker started his professional career with Bristol City but found opportunities hard to come by. He had a brief loan spell with Bath City and was eventually released by Bristol City in January 2014. This meant he was free to join up with Newport, where he made his Football League debut in. a 4-1 loss against Morecambe. He was unable to earn a regular place in the county side and was released at the end of the season after making just four appearances.
He then went to Wycombe Wanderers which are the club he scored his first professional goal for. His next move was to Boundary Park in the 2015-16 season, joining on an emergency loan in February. His only two goals of his spell with Latics came in a 3-2 defeat to Rochdale. His next club was Fleetwood Town but it wasn’t long before he was back at Boundary Park, resigning for the club in January 2017.
His next move was to Shrewsbury Town. He was at the Shrews for one season before moving to Australia to play for Brisbane Roar.
Another player who has played for both clubs is Keanu Marsh-Brown who recently left Newport County and has signed for Memphis 901 in the Sates where former Latics favourite Jose Baxter joined this month.
In The Dugout
Michael Flynn is the man in the dugout for Newport County.
He took over in March 2017 with County 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two and looking a certainty to be playing their football outside of the football league next season.
However, Flynn and his side were able to pull off a great escape, maintaining their league status.
During Flynn’s time in charge, he has overseen some impressive FA Cup runs and he has led his side to a play-off final at Wembley and has a good relationship with Latics Head Coach Dino Maamria.
Match Officials
Thomas Bramall will be the man in charge tomorrow afternoon for the Sky Bet League Two fixture (3pm KO).
The referee has only officiated two games this season due to injury which were earlier this month; Scunthorpe v Cambridge and Macclesfield v Exeter.
This is his second season in the Football League with his last game involving Latics being on the last day of the season at Boundary Park in the defeat to Northampton.
He will be assisted by David Avent and Mark Cunliffe with the Fourth Official being Chris Isherwood.
Sky Bet Odds
Both sides are priced at 13/8 to secure maximum points at Boundary Park, whilst the draw is 21/10.
Latics won 1-0 at Rodney Parade in November and are 13/2 to win by the same result this weekend.
Oldham to win and both teams to score has been boosted from 9/2 to 11/2.
Please gamble responsibly, for more information visit: www.begambleaware.org.
Fixture Information
Please note that the North Stand is still closed to spectators for the game.
Work has been carried out on the stand but the club still await confirmation from the Council as to whether it can be opened for the duration of the fixture. Once a decision has been made an official update will be provided, but the club can take no further action at this moment in time.
If you are a season ticket or match ticket holder in the North Stand whilst this situation prevails, your tickets will be valid for the Main Stand and Rochdale Road End. To avoid inconvenience, you will not need to move your seat at the Ticket Office, you will gain access via the relevant turnstiles within these stands.
Travelling supporters will need a ticket before going to the turnstile for tomorrow's encounter. Cashless entry is in operation for the Chadderton Road End and as such should visit the Ticket Office on Furtherwood Road.
Admission prices are available by clicking here, whilst a Visitors Guide can be found here and a First Time Guide is available here.
How To Follow The Game
If you can't attend the fixture in person at Boundary Park, live commentary is available for all subscribers on iFollow Latics with Mike Leyland and Roy Butterworth who will be talking you through the match.
The iFollow video match pass is only available for overseas residents.
To subscribe for the fixture, click here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.