Oldham Host Cheltenham In Tough Fixture

Oldham Athletic face a big test this weekend as they host high flying Cheltenham Town at Boundary Park.

It will be a big task for the Latics with Cheltenham currently sitting in third place in League Two and are also the top scorers in the division after netting 20 times in 11 games. 

Oldham’s last game was a disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Carlisle United and it also meant that new head-coach Dino Maamria suffered his first defeat at Oldham. An early strike by Olufela Olomola handed Carlisle their first home win since the opening day of the League Two season. 

Following the game, Maamria said, "There were some good bits, some not so good bits. I think the biggest thing is you don't come to places like this and concede the goal with the manner that we conceded in the third minute.

"They've not won since the 3rd August I think at home. The game-plan obviously was to make sure we stay in the game and we try and get that first goal because that would put them under pressure."

He added: "I thought our start was very, very sloppy. We controlled the game after that, we had some brilliant chances especially in the second-half. We could've easily got one in and I think if we got one in we'd have gone on to win it.”

Cheltenham haven’t lost since the end of August and are currently unbeaten in five games in the league. The clubs last game was a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Crewe Alexandra who were also reduced to ten men. They will be determined to get back to winning ways against Oldham. The Latics will also have to be wary of Cheltenham’s Ryan Broom who has scored four and assisted three goals so far this season. 

Ahead of this weekends fixture, Dino Maamria said, “We've got to be at our best, Cheltenham have been together for a while now as a squad.

“They play a certain way and it's been pretty much the same starting XI each week and they've kicked on and look really strong.”

“They've had some terrific results and they have threats going forward there's no doubting that, but they have weaknesses as well.

“What we'll try to do is exploit those weaknesses and it's a home game, in front of our fans on a great surface, so we'll try to do what we do best which is dominate the ball and cause them trouble in the areas they're weak in.

“It's a game that we're looking forward to, but we have to be a lot better than last weekend, a better performance and then the result will look after itself.”