Latics continue their Sky Bet League Two campaign as they travel to Harrogate Town for the penultimate away fixture (7pm KO).
Keith Curle’s men were unable to make it three wins in a row last time out and fell to a 4-3 defeat against high-flying Morecambe.
Conor McAleny, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Kyle Jameson were on the scoresheet in the away loss.
Form Guide
Harrogate’s 2-1 win over Bradford City ended a seven game run without a victory, securing their Football League status and completing the double over their Yorkshire rivals.
Goals from Jack Muldoon and Joshua McPake on either side of an Andy Cook equaliser made sure of the victory.
The result lifted Harrogate above Latics in the table and they sit in 16th place in their maiden campaign.
Town’s last six
- Harrogate Town 2-1 Bradford City
- Harrogate Town 2-2 Leyton Orient
- Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Harrogate Town
- Harrogate Town 0-2 Port Vale
- Walsall 0-0 Harrogate Town
- Harrogate Town 0-1 Southend United
Head-to-Head
Meetings: 1
Latics wins: 0
Harrogate wins: 1
Draws: 0
In the only previous competitive meeting between the two sides, a brace from George Thompson made sure Town claimed all three points on boxing day.
Latics did take the lead through McAleny from the penalty spot, but the lead lasted just longer than 10 minutes and matters were soon made worse with Bobby Grant being shown a straight red card in the 43rd minute.
Watch Out For
Jack Muldoon is Town’s top scorer in the division with 13 to his name.
He had been on a bit of a dry patch but his crucial goal in the 2-1 win over Bradford City saw him make a timely return to form.
Muldoon has been somewhat of a journeyman in his playing career, but the forward seems to have found a home in Harrogate.
The 31-year-old played for a host of non-league teams before getting his first taste of the league when he signed for Rochdale.
After struggling to make an impact at Spotland, Muldoon went back to the National League and had spells with Lincoln City and AFC Fylde.
He signed for Town in June 2018 and has been a mainstay in the side ever since, including in last season’s promotion-winning season.
In The Dugout
Simon Weaver is the man in the dugout for the hosts.
The 43-year-old has been manager of Town since 2009.
This is Weaver’s first job in management and Harrogate Town has been transformed under his leadership. The club had been strugglers of the sixth tier but since they reached the National League for the first time in the club’s history and remarkably the Football League not much later.
Stadium
Wetherby Road (The EnviroVent Stadium)
Capacity: 5,000
Record Attendance: 4,280 (vs. Harrogate Railway, 1949/50)
Opened: 1920
Match Officials
The referee in charge is Carl Boyeson.
He has taken charge of 27 games in this campaign handing out 96 bookings and one red card.
The last fixture he officiated involving Latics was in February 2021, a 3-1 away win at Carlisle United. Prior to that, he was also in charge for the 3-0 victory over the same opponent in the Carabao Cup at the start of the season.
His assistants are David Avent and Ivan Stankovic with Graeme Fyvie as the Fourth Official.
Sky Bet Odds
Town are 10/11 favourites to take all three points whilst Latics are out at 13/5 to return to winning ways.
13/5 is also the price being offered for the draw.
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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 Michael Brown and John Helm talk you through the action.
This match is available as a live stream for the fee of £10 by clicking here.
In the current environment, there is a greater dependence on match streaming than ever before.
As a result iFollow generates one of the only revenue streams available to clubs through these financial challenges.
Piracy - and illegal streaming of matches - does not only carry the risk of potential criminal action, but also has a greater financial impact on clubs while supporters are unable to attend matches.
The EFL's campaign would like to not only convey the message that piracy is immoral and illegal, but that it is also financially damaging club's across the divisions.
For more information on the campaign and iFollow, click here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.