Latics will look to make it back-to-back wins when they welcome Carlisle United to Boundary Park tonight for a second time this season (7pm KO).
A superb stoppage time solo goal from Zak Dearnley earnt Oldham their first league win of the season last time out at the weekend against Bolton.
Form Guide
The Cumbrians have enjoyed a good start to the season and go into the game on the back of three league wins in a row which has lifted them to 5th place in the Sky Bet League Two table.
However, Carlisle have not taken their league form into other cup competitions. They have lost both of their opening EFL Trophy matches and as such have been eliminated and also fell at the first hurdle in the Carabao Cup when they went down 3-0 at Boundary Park at the start of last month to kick-off the 2020/21 campaign.
The Cumbrians’ last six:
- Carlisle United 3-2 Colchester United
- Port Vale 0-1 Carlisle United
- Sunderland 5-3 Carlisle United (EFL Trophy)
- Carlisle United 1-0 Barrow
- Scunthorpe United 1-0 Carlisle United
- Carlisle United 2-0 Southend United
Head-to-Head
Latics have won 28 of the 85 meetings between the two clubs.
The last time the clubs met was earlier this season in the Carabao Cup First Round. Goals from Ben Garrity, Bobby Grant and Conor McAleny saw Latics ease into the next round with a 3-0 win.
Prior to this game, Latics had won none of the previous six games against Carlisle and you have to go back to April 2014 for the last time Oldham secured three points against the Cumbrians in the league.
Watch Out For
Midfielder Jon Mellish has scored five goals in nine appearances for Carlisle so far this season.
The 23-year old is the club’s top scorer in the league with three and a brace against Sunderland in the EFL Trophy makes up his impressive total.
Melish is a versatile player and has often been utilised in the back four as well as in the midfield.
The South Shields born player began his career with Gateshead before making the move to the Football League with Carlisle last season.
His first season at Brunton Park was less eventful and Mellish made just 22 appearances in all competitions.
Familiar Face
Dean Furman played 148 times for Latics between 2009 and 2013.
Furman spent nine years as part of the youth set up at Chelsea before moving north of the border to Rangers to get his first taste of senior football.
He got his first taste of English football at Bradford City in August 2018, arriving on a loan deal from Rangers.
At the end of his season with the Bantams, Furman joined Oldham Athletic, signing an initial three-year deal in June 2009.
Whilst at Boundary Park, Furman’s accolades include being awarded the Football League Goal of the Year for a strike against Notts County in August 2010 and being made captain for the 2011/12 season, aged just 23.
His next club was Doncaster Rovers, who he joined on an initial loan deal which was made permanent after he helped them to the League One title.
After his spell at the Keepmoat, Furman returned to his home country to join up with SuperSport United and he made over 100 appearances for the club before making his return to English football with Carlisle.
The Cape Town born midfielder has been capped 56 times for South Africa and has even had the honour of captaining his country.
In The Dugout
Chris Beech is the man in charge currently in the dugout for the visitors.
He was appointed on the 26th November 2019 as the Head Coach of Carlisle after the departure of Steven Pressley.
This is Beech’s first permanent posting as a manager, but he has had a caretaker stint at Rochdale.
The 45-year-old managed to guide Carlisle to 18th in Sky Bet League Two last season, a place above Latics, finishing with 42 points.
Match Officials
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Assistants: Robert Merchant & Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: James Wilson
The Manchester FA official has officiated three games so far this season in the Championship and Carabao Cup giving out nine yellows and a single red card.
His last game involving Latics, apart from in pre-season, was way back in April 2019 where a brace from Callum Lang secured a 2-0 win over Tranmere on another Tuesday evening under the Boundary Park lights.
Sky Bet Odds
The Cumbrians are slight favourites for the game at 8/5, whilst Latics are 13/8 to complete an early season double.
When the two sides met in the league at Boundary Park last season, the game ended level and it is priced at 9/4 to be the same this time around.
Latics won 3-0 when they met in the cup and it is 25/1 for the same outcome this time around.
Please gamble responsibly, for more information visit www.begambleaware.org.
How To Follow The Game
Because the game is classed as behind-closed-doors, supporters can tune into a live match stream with commentary available for all subscribers on iFollow Latics, as Roy Butterworth and Mike Leyland talk you through the action.
This match is available as a live stream for the fee of £10.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.
Oldham Athletic would like to make it clear that all fixtures are still strictly-behind-closed doors with spectators not being allowed entry.
Extensive guidelines are in place for the safety of officials and players whilst the events are taking place.
It is important you do not travel or attempt to visit Boundary Park on the day, especially with the new local restrictions in place.