After getting back to winning ways in the last week or so, Bolton face a bit of a local clash with Oldham. I don’t really want to say derby, as relations between us and Oldham seem alright.
Anyway, it pits two teams who are quite similar, but have found themselves at differing ends of the table. Two defensively solid sides who struggle in front of goal. It’s going to be a cracker!
Vital Quotes:
‘Last year we beat them 1-0 at Bradford in one of John Sheridan`s first games and there was a negativity around the ground that we`d only won by a single goal,” he said.
“I went out in the press afterwards and said I was astonished at the reaction.
“Every team deserves to be respected and the minute you start taking anybody lightly, especially a team like Oldham who`ve done well away from home, you`re in for a shock.’
Phil Parkinson recalls a previous encounter with the Latics.
Bolton Wanderers Team News:
Lewis Buxton and Dean Moxey are still both misssing, while James Henry, who was playing with a knock last weekend, should be at least fit enough to feature.
Chris Taylor is back training, but unlikely to feature against his home town club.
Player to watch: James Henry
A few murmurs of discontent about Henry, he perhaps hasn’t been the catalyst we were hoping or epecting so far. Although he wasn’t 100% fit last weekend he still wasted some big chances. Hopefully a goal will follow.
Oldham Athletic Team News:
Ryan Flynn is the only injury doubt for Oldham.
Former Wanderers youth player Luke Woodland, Cameron Dummigan, Ryan McLaughlin and Calaum Jahraldo-Martin have all returned from international duty.
Player to watch: Carl Winchester
As pointed out in our Scouting Report, Winchester has that bit of creative spark that could open us up, although he has a tendency to be inconsistent.
Match Facts & Stats
Oldham haven’t lost away in the league since the opening day of the season.
Both teams have only scored 18 goals between them all season, nine fewer than leaders Scunthorpe. They have only conceded 23 goals overall too, which is the same number as Southend have alone.
This is Oldham’s first trip to the Macron. The last league game was a 0-0 draw at Boundary Park in 1997, while Bolton won the last competitive meeting, a 1-0 FA Cup fourth round in 2005. Ricardo Vaz Te scored.
Match Prediction:
A 1-0 Bolton win.
Next Fixtures:
Away games, Milwall on Tuesday, then a trip to some Manchester outpost next Monday.