The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Oldham Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 07/02/2004

AFTER nearly a three week break for the Mariners, they return to action in front of a full house at Boundary Park with over a thousand Town fans expected to travel to Lancashire for this relegation six pointer.

As most people will know by now, tickets are free at Boundary Park on Sunday thanks to the new consortium that has taken over Oldham Football Club following a torrid year that has seen them in administration for the most of it. The Mariner meanwhile, are in deep trouble of dropping into the relegation zone should results go against them on Saturday and they lose tomorrow. Also, needless to say, Paul Groves’ job is on the line.

Home > 2003-2004 Season > Previews > Oldham (a)


The Opposition

Manager
John Sheridan (left) Been in charge of the club along with David Eyres since December, after the departure of Iain Dowie to Crystal Palace. Has instilled more confidence into the Latics after Dowie’s last eight games in charge of the club didn’t see the team win at all. His eight game record so far has seen him guide Athletic to two wins, four draws and two losses, and now has a decent shout to take the job until the end of the season.

The Team
The bad news for the Mariners is that Jamacian forward Jermaine Johnson (left), who tormented the Town defence on Boxing Day, this week signed an extension to his loan deal from Bolton Wanderers and will play. He has scored three goals in 11 games so far in his two month loan stay. Since Boxing Day, Stoke City central defender Gareth Owen has joined John Sheridan’s side on a months loan deal. The 21 year old Welshman has put in some solid performances at the back and made his debut in a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday a few weeks back. Two of Oldham’s most consistent performers over the past few years have been former Southampton midfielder Paul Murray and keeper’ Les Pogliacomi who will both play on Sunday despite being in talks with a move to Crystal Palace this week. Good news for the Latics is that Pogliacomi has rejected a move to Selhurst Park, with Murray still undecided.

Recent Form

 

TownOldham
LWrexham(h)1-3
LPort Vale(a)1-5
DPlymouth(a)0-0
LWycombe(a)1-4
DPeterborough(a)1-1
Currently 20th in Division 2.
LRushden(a)1-4
DBlackpool(a)1-1
WSheff Wed(h)1-0
DBrighton(a)0-0
DBrentford(h)1-1
Currently 17th in Division 2.

Top Scorers

 

TownOldham
Boulding13
Jevons5
Anderson4
Vernon8
Cooksey5
J Sheridan5

Team News

 

TownOldham

  • Town nearly have a fully fit squad for the trip to Oldham. Back are Darren Barnard, Tony Crane and Staurt Campbell. We expect that all three will go straight back into the starting eleven.

  • Definitely out is skipper John McDermott who is to have a hernia operation and Stacy Coldicott who was due to play a reserve game this week at York City, but was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

  • This means that Jason Crowe will move to right back with Tony Crane replacing Ford in the centre. Stuart Campbell could return to the right side of midfield at the expense of Iain Anderson, or could be moved into the centre with Nick Daws depending on whether the manager decides to play himself or Des Hamilton in the centre of the park.

  • Up front, we expect that Lee Thorpe will be given his debut and partner Michael Boulding.

  • Darren Mansaram should make the bench despite picking up a knock this week.
  • Calvin Zola, on loan from Newcastle could return to the Oldham lineup after playing half the game last week at Rushden. Though he faces a battle with top scorer Scott Vernon for a place alongside Jermaine Johnson. There were fears that Vernon had broken his jaw last week against Rushden, but he hasn’t and will be fit enough to take his place in the squad.

  • Captain John Eyre is expected to return to the side after sitting out last week following suspension.

  • Ex-Town loanee David Beharall could make the bench, but has been injured of late and is out of match practice.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownOldham
    Aidan Davison
    Jason Crowe
    Tony Crane
    Mike Edwards
    Phil Jevons
    Nicky Daws
    Stuart Campbell
    Iain Anderson
    Michael Boulding
    Lee Thorpe
    Les Pogliacomi
    Dean Holden
    William Haining
    Gareth Owen
    Adam Griffin
    Paul Murray
    John Eyre
    Ernie Cooksey
    Danny Boshell
    Scott Vernon
    Jermaine Johnson

    Subs

     

    TownOldham
    Des Hamilton
    Darren Mansaram
    Paul Groves
    Iffy Onoura
    Greg Young
    David Eyres
    Calvin Zola
    Kieran Westwood
    Michael Clegg
    Marc Tierney

    Some Interesting Facts...

  • If Paul Groves plays the side the Fishy has predicted, every one of his starting eleven except Phil Jevons have been signed by Groves.
  • There has never been a 0-0 draw between the two sides in when Town have been the away team since their first meeting in 1907...

  • Last Time Out

    It was only just over a month ago that Town met Oldham of course, in a thrilling 3-3 draw on Boxing Day. Town played most of the game with 10 men after the dismissal of Tony Crane and managed to hold off pressure from Oldham to keep them at bay. Phil Jevons scored two goals, with one beautiful lob over the keepr in front of the Pontoon. Michael Boulding grabbed the other with Johnson, Vernon and Cooksey scoring for Oldham

    Town Team: Davison, McDermott, Crane (sent off 16), Edwards, Barnard, Campbell, Hamilton (Cas, 77) , Pouton, Jevons, Onuora (Ford, 18) , Boulding (Mansaram, 68)
    Subs: (not used) Groves, Anderson Goals: Jevons (9), Boulding (57), Jevons (76)

    Oldham Team: Pogliacomi, Clegg, Hudson, Haining, Griffin, Eyre, Murray, Boshell ( Eyres, 74) , Cooksey ( Roca, 88) , Johnson, Zola ( Vernon, 68)
    Subs: (not used) Westwood, Daniel Hall
    Goals: Johnson (19), Cooksey (32), Vernon (73)

    Attendance: 6,172    Report

    Oldham Head-to-Head (34th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: 1-0 and 1,500 Town fans behind the goal going barmy Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Boundary Park (left).

    Pubs

    Click on the link for pubs near Boundary Park.




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