MATCH PREVIEW: OLDHAM ATHLETIC (A)

Oldham Athletic vs Boreham Wood
Tuesday, 13th February 2024, 7:45 pm
Boundary Park, Oldham, Vanarama National League

PREVIEW

Tomorrow, we travel up the M1 to face Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park. Our last meeting with The Latics came earlier this season in a 0-0 draw at Meadow Park. However, in our previous trip to Oldham back in March, goals from Jack Payne and former number 15, Dennon Lewis saw The Wood come away with a 2-0 win. Oldham currently sit 8th in the table after 12 wins, 10 draws, and 8 losses, with The Latics having accrued 46 points. The Wood are currently sat 5 places below and 6 points worse off than our opponents from the North-West but come into this tie off the back of a 1-0 victory over Maidenhead United on Saturday, with an Erico Sousa goal from the penalty spot awarding Luke Garrard’s side the three points. The gaffer will be hoping to carry on his side’s recent winning form at Boundary Park tomorrow evening.

FORM GUIDE

Oldham Athletic – D-L-W-W-W

The Latics are currently sat 4thin the form-guide, 6 places above The Wood. In their last 5 league games, Micky Mellon’s side have picked up 3 wins. However, the side from Greater Manchester are currently winless in their previous 2 in the league, suffering a loss in the process. Oldham kicked off their 2024 with a trip to Surrey where the Latics would face Dorking Wanderers. Micky Mellon’s side would come away from Dorking with the three points after a Fondop-Talum goal just before half-time. This was then followed by the 4th round of the FA Trophy, where The Latics would lose 2-1 to Hendon and exit the competition. The clash had quite the nail-biting ending, with two goals after the 90 and the home-side finding a winner in the dying seconds.

Oldham would respond to their shock cup-exit with a 2-0 win over Barnet at Boundary Park, where two James Norwood penalties would sink The Bees. This would mark the end of The Latics’ winning run in the league however, as they would face Woking at home in late January where a goal from Jermaine Anderson would secure a 1-0 win for The Cardinals. Finally, In their most recent fixture, Oldham would travel to Ebbsfleet but would fail to respond to their Woking defat with a win as The Latics would be held to a goalless draw. Micky Mellon’s side will be looking to climb back into the play-off places with three points tomorrow evening and are sure to provide a big test for Luke Garrard’s side.

ONES TO WATCH

James Norwood:

33-year-old striker, James Norwood has played a crucial role for Oldham Athletic so far this season. Norwood, who began his career in his south-coast hometown of Eastbourne with Eastbourne Town and has previously featured for the likes of Barnsley, Ipswich Town, Tranmere Rovers and Forest Green, joined the Latics in August of last year. Over the 2022/23 season, Norwood netted 11 times in League One for his former club, Barnsley. The forward, however, has already surpassed his league goalscoring tally of last season with Oldham in the National League this season, having hit the back of the net an impressive 16 times in 29 games. The Latics’ frontman earned a spot in the Vanarama National League Team of Midweek as recently as 2 weeks ago for his performance against Barnet, where the striker netted a brace. However, the 33-year-old has failed to score in his previous 2 league games and will likely be hungry for a goal at Boundary Park tomorrow.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW