Oldham now face the first of a critical seven-game period when they make the trip to East London to face Dagenham & Redbridge in the National League.
A thrilling 2-2 draw at Boundary Park with champions elect Chesterfield last weekend saw Latics produce one of their best performances of the season, though three points must be on the agenda with the risk of losing pace with the playoff spots a real one.
The draw saw Micky Mellon’s men slip further outside those coveted positions, albeit just to two points in ninth, though the Oldham boss will feel the need to up the ante in these final weeks.
Winless in four with three draws in that span has seen the Athletic lose key momentum, though they can fall back on a terrific away record as they have done so on many occasions ahead of the trip this weekend.
Whilst their record against Dagenham could provide a confidence boost to this group. Oldham are yet to face defeat against their upcoming opponents in five meetings (W2 D3), though they will look to win away in East London for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
The Opposition
A crucial win meanwhile for Dagenham over Maidenhead saw their advantage stretch to four points in what may prove decisive come the end of the season.
Defeat would have seen Maidenhead climb above Dagenham in a congested relegation scrap, whilst a now six-point gap to the drop zone may help the Daggers feel more comfortable ahead of this final stretch of the season.
Dagenham meanwhile have enjoyed a decent spell of form, conceding only two defeats in their last eight though they have struggled to maintain defensive solidarity at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
They have only managed to keep one clean sheet all season long which came in August in the win over Barnet, whilst they have conceded at least once in their last 17 at home, something potentially for Oldham to ponder on.
It is meanwhile likely to see a decisive result, no matter the direction it takes. Dagenham’s home turf is yet to see a split of the points, leaving a strong indication that an intense contest is set to play out.
Key Player
Without talisman Inih Effiong for the past month, Dagenham have needed other players to step up in his absence, whilst Josh Rees showed no hesitation when snatching up that invitation.
Six goals in his last eight including a hat-trick in the 7-1 rout over Oxford, his nous for a goal has certainly shone through at a critical time where before he had scored the same amount in his previous 24 appearances.
Most recently his knack for scoring goals came in the win over Maidenhead, where his terrific first-time finish into the far corner marked his threat as a third man runner into the box.
Rees is not afraid meanwhile of producing the spectacular, his special acrobatic effort in the riot against Oxford put the cherry on top of a superb team display, though it is not the first time the midfielder has had himself a fruitful campaign in front of goal.
Now the third time in his career where Rees has notched at least ten in a league season, he could be on course to beat his own personal record of 16 having already struck 12 with seven to play.
In the dugout
Turned over a year since Ben Strevens was appointed in the hot seat in East London, he has overseen solid progress but still has work to do if he wishes to push Dagenham into playoff contention.
At the back end of the 22/23 season, Strevens managed to steer the club to a tenth-place finish whilst his first full campaign there has been a struggle to maintain the levels shown in spurts across the campaign.
Wins over Barnet and Altrincham and more recently their thrashing of Oxford highlights how good Dagenham can be, though too often this season Strevens’ side has allowed those performances to drop leaving them well off the playoff pace.
It may meanwhile be a season of development under Strevens, where now a season and a few months of guidance under the Englishman, Dagenham may be ready to kick on this time next year.
The Daggers are on track to match their tenth-place finish last season or potentially beat it, which could set the foundation for a successful campaign in 24/25 with playoff football certainly high on the list of priorities.
Match coverage and information
Live audio commentary is available on Latics Player, guiding you through the match.
For more information, visit the Latics Player page by clicking here.
Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC
As this game is not being played within the blocked broadcast hours stipulated by UEFA, live streaming will be available through National League TV for supporters in the UK and overseas.
Matchday passes are available for £9.50, with further details here.
As always, we will endeavour to ensure confirmation of the line-up is published as soon as possible on social media.
However, supporters should note that team sheets in the National League are not exchanged until an hour before kick-off. This is 15 minutes later than in the EFL and as a result, the line-up is likely to be published slightly later than in previous seasons.
