SHRIMPERS
Blues boss Steve Tilson is waiting to hear back on defenders Johnny Herd and Jean-Yves M'Voto and striker Roy O'Donovan who all face fitness tests Friday before he picks the side for the Latics.
He told www.southendunited.co.uk: "They have all trained which is good but we need to see how they react to it and if there are any further problems before we decide what to do. Hopefully they will be fit but we will have to wait and see."
M'Voto seems the biggest doubt which would probably see the second half defence against Brighton start the game with Sankofa playing at right-back and Francis moving into central defence with Captain Adam.
As for the match itself, Tilly continued: "It will be another tough game for us. We're going well at the moment, yes we've had too many draws but we've only lost one of our first eight games so the lads have got to take a lot of credit for that. It's important to keep the run going and we'll try and keep that going on Saturday."
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, M'Voto (or Sankofa), Barrett, Friend, Grant, Christophe, McCormack, Moussa, Barnard, O'Donovan.
Subs: Joyce, Sankofa (or O'Keefe), Herd, Sawyer, Scannell, Laurent, Freedman.
Midfielder Alex Marrow, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, will return to the Oldham Athletic squad having recovered from the illness which kept him out of last Saturday's 2-0 home victory against Carlisle United. Their first since Valentine's Day!
Chris Taylor and Pawel Abbott continue to play through injuries, although Abbott will require a hernia operation as soon as Latics boss Dave Penney is able to bring someone in.
Nick Blackman has gone back to parent club Blackburn Rovers for treatment on a foot injury.
Long term injury victims Deane Smalley, Rob Purdie and Joe Jacobson, haven't been involved in the season at all!
Penney spoke to the Oldham Advertiser: "It's been tough because we haven't been able to freshen things up and people are playing through injuries. Alex will be the only addition to the squad because the rest are still unavailable. When you look at the game against Carlisle, the starting 11 was quite strong but we only had kids on the bench. Kieran Lee and Ryan Brooke both came on and did well, so we can hopefully build them in gradually."
13 | Stockport County | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 9 | -2 | ||||
14 | Norwich City | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 9 | -3 | ||||
15 | Exeter City | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 9 | -3 | ||||
16 | Oldham Athletic | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 9 | -3 | ||||
17 | Carlisle United | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 8 | -3 | ||||
18 | Hartlepool United | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 8 | -3 | ||||
19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 8 | -7 |
Oldham will be looking for a third consecutive win at Roots Hall, at least there's no Lee Hughes around, but Penney knows his team face a tough task.
He continued: "It's a tight ground and they're always good at home. I've been there a few times in the past and I know it's going to be difficult. They had a good result against Brighton and drew against Leeds, so there's no easy games in this division."
He told Blues Insider: "They are a solid side. They had Darren Byfield at the time who was pretty decent, but Millwall were good value for the 2-0 win and I hope we replicate this same feat come 4.45pm on Saturday.
Defender Alan Sheenan, yet another loanee, this time for Oldham from Leeds, assisted with both goals in last weekend's win against the Cumbrians, and plays his penaultimate game at the Hall.
Sheenan spoke to the Latics official website about his time at Boundary Park: "I've really enjoyed it. I can't speak highly enough about the boys here, they've made me feel so welcome from the start and they're a great bunch. From a personal point of view, we have two games left with me here for now and I'm just taking the games one at a time and working as hard as I can for the team - starting with a tough trip to Southend on Saturday."
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The Latics finally achieved the elusive home win by seeing off Carlisle by a 2-0 score line. It was the Latics first home win in any game, friendlies included, since they beat Northampton Town back on 14th February and came as a total relief for Oldham's long suffering home fans. Carlisle almost took an early lead after a slip by Reuben Hazell but it was survived. Dean Brill, who has recently suffered scathing remarks from the fans, had a great game and silenced his critics with some wonderful match winning saves. The home side were putting on early pressure and Chris Taylor was unlucky when his header was punched clear by Pidgeley in the Carlisle goals. Another great save by Brill on the half hour again gave Athletic confidence enough to think that it might be the day to get back on the home winning trail and then Carlisle hit the upright ten minutes from the end of the first half. the Cumbrians took the initiative for a short spell but a Sheehan free kick was deflected off the wall and it seemed to silence the travelling fans who realised that it just wasn't going to be their day. Taylor almost got a third goal with a header from Sheehan's corner but it was narrowly wide but the home side held on in fine fashion to send their long suffering fans away from Boundary Park with smiles on their faces, and with a renewed vigour that might be become a pivotal point in the season. Below are Boundary Blue's assessment of the Latics player performances (4-4-2): Dean Brill - 8 - Solid game. Probably saved us from defeat as had we gone one down in our fragile state it probably would've been curtains. Catch the match action here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8265912.stm |
PREVIOUSLY
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REF
The man in the middle is Keith Hill from Hertfordshire.
Mr. Hill was the official who called off the Scunthorpe match last season minutes before the scheduled kick off, as well as our 2-1 win at Yeovil in the pouring rain.
Sending off and booking, what seemed, half the Glovers team at the end, he is not on the then Yeovil boss Russell Slade's Christmas card list. I thought he was OK!
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009; (all kick-offs 19.45): Brentford v Southend, Colchester v Charlton, Exeter v Swindon, Leeds United v Carlisle, Millwall v Yeovil, Norwich v Leyton Orient, Oldham v MK Dons, Southampton v Bristol Rovers, Stockport v Hartlepool, Walsall v Huddersfield, Wycombe v Tranmere.
BET
To Win:
Southend - 10/11, Draw - 12/5, Oldham - 10/3.
Shrimpers now a best of 10's for promotion, the Latics at 20's.
Unlike many clubs, Oldham gained quick success and gained acceptance into the Football League in 1907-08. After three years in the Second Division the Latics gained promotion to the First Division.
The current limited company was formed after several months in administration in 2003-04 .On 3 February 2004, the club's immediate future was secured when a group of American-based expatriate British businessmen led by Simon Blitz bought the club, forming Oldham Athletic (2004) Association Football Club Limited.
After two years with the club, manager John Sheridan was sacked on 15 March 2009, immediately being replaced by former manager Joe Royle. After being offered the job on a permanent basis, Royle rejected the offer and announced that he would be leaving the club after the final game of the season.
Darlington boss Dave Penney was announced as Royle's successor on 30 April, though Royle did remain in charge until the season's end.
For a full history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Oldham_Athletic_A.F.C.