From the First Whistle - Oldham v Stevenage

[Stevie_J]

 

Following last week's draw at home to Huddersfield, Latics manager Paul Dickov faces a shortage at left back, since Bradley Diallo, deputising for the injured Paul Black, was sent off in the late stages of an impressive home debut. As no new faces have arrived at Boundary Park, 18-year-old David Mellor seems likely to start for the visit of Stevenage.

 

Loanee, Nathan Clarke is available again after being barred from appearing against his parent club last week and Carl Winchester returns from international duty. Meanwhile, Matty Lund has been recalled by Stoke City after failing to make an impact during his brief loan spell.

 

Veteran striker Shefki Kuqi will be keen to build on his goalscoring debut as Latics play hosts to Stevenage, a club who have enjoyed much success in recent years.

 

The Boro won the FA Trophy in 2007 and again in 2009. They finished the 2009/10 season as Conference National champions and secured back-to-back promotions when they won last season's League Two play-offs.

 

They have made a solid start to life in League One, having lost only once to early league leaders MK Dons.

 

Ex-Latic Chris Day should start in the Stevenage goal and the home fans will hope he can re-find the sort of form he has previously shown at Boundary Park! Hopefully Dickov has had his team practising shots across the face of goal all week - something Day seemed incapable of stopping when he wore the Latics goalkeeper jersey.

 

Forwards Craig Reid and Chris Beardsley pose a threat as they look to repeat their goalscoring form from last week's win against Rochdale, with both men grabbing two goals.

 

Latics squad: Cisak, M'voto, Wesolowski, Diamond, Clarke, Morais, Reid, Adeyemi, Smith, Brooke, Tarkowski, Taylor, Lee, Millar, Winchester, Gerrard, Mellor, Kuqi.

 

Predicted starting line-up:

Cisak

Lee Diamond M'voto Mellor

Morais Wesolowski Adeyemi Taylor

Kuqi Reid

 

Scoreline prediction:

Latics 1-1 Stevenage