Latics travel to Broadfield Stadium looking to make it back-to-back wins following the impressive 5-0 victory over Newport County last weekend.
Form Guide
Crawley go into the game on a three-game unbeaten run. The Red Devils have shown promising signs defensively and have managed three clean sheets in their last five outings. Latics’ thumping win of Newport was the sides first victory after a four-game winless run.
The Red Devils’ last six:
- Crawley Town 3-1 Scunthorpe United
- Salford City 0-0 Crawley Town
- Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Crawley Town
- Crawley Town 0-0 Carlisle United
- Crawley Town 2-0 Stevenage
- Exeter City 1-1 Crawley Town
Head-to-Head
Oldham have won five of the nine meetings between the two clubs. Crawley have won two and the other two have been draws. Latics have won each of the last three games against Crawley including a 2-1 win at Boundary Park earlier on this season.
Oldham Athletic 2-1 Crawley Town – 21st December 2019
Latics had to come from behind to secure all three points at Boundary Park following Lewis Young’s opener in the 17th minute.
Skipper David Wheater levelled the scoring inside the opening five minutes of the second-half. He rose highest to meet a Jonny Smith corner and powered his header into the back of the net giving the keeper no chance.
The comeback was completed before the hour mark, Scott Wilson did well to find Mohamed Maouche and the Frenchman kept his composure and slotted the ball past Morris and into the back of the net.
Latics were able to hang on and claimed an important victory that lifted them to 19th place and onto level points with their opponents at the time.
League Story So Far
Crawley had a solid start to the season as they lost just two of their first ten league games. The 16 games that followed proved to be more difficult for the Red Devils as they won just two of their fixtures. Town’s 2-1 defeat to Latics was part of that sequence.
Results have since picked up with Crawley recording four wins of their last nine and only losing two of them under new leadership in the dugout.
This sees them sit 12th in the Sky Bet League Two table. They are four points and five places better off than Oldham going into the game and are 11 points off a play-off place.
Team News
It is expected that Gary Woods may be absent again in the Latics goal again after suffering a thigh injury against Orient that disrupted his training and is doubtful as a result along with Mani Dieseruvwe who has also been receiving treatment through the week.
Jamie Stott is still a long-term absentee.
For the hosts, Tom Dallison, Lewis Young and Reece Grego-Cox all remain side-lined with injury.
Watch Out For
Ollie Palmer is Town’s danger man.
The forward has been in fine form this season and has 12 league goals and 14 in all competitions for the Red Devils, whilst adding three assists also. He can boast an impressive goal every 156 minutes and has a goal participation stat of 31%. His last goal came in their 3-1 win over Scunthorpe United.
The 28-year-old started his career with Woking. He made 20 appearances for Woking before moving to Havant and Waterlooville on a permanent deal in September 2011. Palmer’s time with the club was a success. He finished his second season with the club as the Conference South’s most deadly frontman with 25 league goals, a feat that earnt him the Player of the Year award. His time at Havant saw him gain some admirers from higher division side with League One Charlton Athletic and even Premier League Chelsea being linked to the striker but it was newly promoted League Two side Mansfield Town that won the signature of the exciting forward.
Palmer did not find life as easy in the Football League and had to go out on loan to conference side Grimsby Town during his spell with the Stags. It was a similar story for Palmer at his next permanent club too. He joined Leyton Orient in July 2015 but was sent out on loan to Luton Town on deadline day in January 2017.
His next club was Lincoln City. He joined Lincoln in June 2018. Palmer scored his first goal for the club in the EFL Trophy against his former club Mansfield Town. The six-foot-five striker would go onto to lift the EFL Trophy in 2018 as they beat Shrewsbury Town 1-0 in the Wembley final. Palmer’s performances in the cup saw him earn a place in the team of the tournament. Palmer then joined current club Crawley on the 27th June 2018.
Palmer missed the last two Red Devils games through injury but has a chance of returning against Dino Maamria’s men.
Stadium
Crawley Town play at the Broadfield Stadium.
Also known as the People's Pension Stadium for sponsorship reasons, the ground holds 6,134 people and was opened in 1997.
It boasts a record attendance of 5,880 for a game between Crawley Town and Reading in the FA Cup third round.
The ground also plays host to Brighton and Hove Albion’s women’s team.
In The Dugout
John Yems is the man in the dugout for Crawley Town.
Yems was appointed as manager of the Red Devils on the 5th of December 2019.
Yems had been part of a three-man team of caretaker managers at the Broadfield Stadium in 2006 after Crawley dismissed John Hollins.
He has had many different roles in football but has not been as manager again before his appointment earlier on this season.
Sky Bet Odds
The EFL’s bookmaker have Crawley as favourites for the clash with the hosts priced at 13/10 to win. Latics are 2/1 to secure maximum points and the draw is 9/4.
Last time the sides met Latics won 2-1 and you can get odds of 10/1 for the same outcome at the Broadfield Stadium.
Please gamble responsibly, for more information visit: www.begambleaware.org.
Match Officials
Charles Breakspear will be the man in charge when Latics take on Crawley in the Sky Bet League Two away fixture tomorrow afternoon (3pm KO).
The referee has officiated 29 games this season, brandishing 129 yellow cards as well as 12 red cards.
This will be his first time the League One and Two official has taken charge of a fixture involving Latics.
He will be assisted by Gregory Read and Alasdair Ross with the Fourth Official being Mathew Buonassisi.
As a result of the ongoing concerns posed the by the Coronavirus outbreak and following specific medical advice, the Fair Play handshake between players and match officials will not take place at matches until further notice.
Whilst the Government guidance does remain unchanged, a decision has been taken in conjunction with the EFL due to the way in which the Covid-19 virus can be transmitted through a handshake.
How To Follow The Game
If you haven't got a ticket for the fixture, live commentary is available for all subscribers on iFollow Latics with Roy Butterworth and a guest reappearance from Sam Rosbottom 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.
Ticket & Travel Information
A reminder tickets for Oldham Athletic’s trip to Crawley Town tomorrow are available on the day.
Latics make the journey to the People's Pension Stadium (Broadfield) on Saturday 7 March 2020 (3pm).
The ticket prices are as follows, with no price increase. A total of 107 have been sold in advance.
| Seating | Terracing | |
| Adults | £20 | £16 |
| Seniors (65+) | £15 | £12 |
| Under 21 | £13 | £11 |
| Under 18 | £10 | £10 |
| Under 16 | £4 | £4 |
| Under 11 (with paying Adult) | Free | Free |
Tickets are available on the day from two outlets; the Ticket Office and Ticket Cabin. Both are situated at Crawley's ground and are able to take cash and card payments.
For disabled seating and carer tickets please contact the hosts direct on 01293 410 000.
Here's a reminder of the supporters' coach details:
Departs: 8am
Adults: £32
Under 18: £27