Oldham Athletic Vs Preston North End Match Preview
npower League One Saturday 6th October 2012
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Boundary Park, Oldham
Referee: Paul Tierney (click here for referee stats)
Betting Odds: Oldham 7/4 Draw 23/10 Preston 6/4
Form: Oldham Athletic LDDLLW Preston North End: LWLLWW
Two back-to-back wins sees the Lilywhites rocket up to 7th in the table and, such is the nature of this season's tightly contested League One campaign, just four points separate North End from top spot.
A professional and confident team display at the Keepmoat Stadium has set the bar for North End's next away trip, the short journey do Boundary Park.
With rallying cries from some sets of supporters urging their fellow Preston faithful to turn out in numbers, making Boundary Park North End's home from home is the target, much like Gigg Lane one month ago.
Should North End repeat their fortunes of that victory over Bury, their last away trip in the North West, Graham Westley's men could rise as high as second place.
Oldham, meanwhile, have just one win in their last six.
Said win came on Tuesday night away at Leyton Orient in a game that ended a run of two straight defeats.
Paul Dickov's men are currently floundering at the lower reaches of the table having picked up just nine points from nine matches.
Previous Meetings (click here for head-to-head stats)
North End's last trip to Oldham, in April, was done so in celebration of Thorsten Stuckmann's rise from the unknown to a relative cult hero.
Unfortunately the thousands that traveled to Boundary Park weren't able to celebrate a win and had to settle for a point.
North End fell behind thanks to a Robbie Simpson effort on 69 minutes but Chris Holroyd equalised 10 minutes later with his first, and to date, only goal for Preston North End.
It was another stalemate when the two sides met at Deepdale in October of last year, this time the two sides shared six goals rather than just two.
Juvhel Tsoumou and Jamie Proctor had North End 2-0 up with a goal a piece either side of the half hour mark before well-travelled striker Shefki Kuqi pulled one back on 41.
North End then failed to go in at the break with the advantage after surrendering their two goal lead just three minutes later when James Wesolowski levelled on 44.
Daniel Devine thought he had scored the winner after 64 minutes but Wesolowski sealed his brace with a late strike to salvage a point for the Latics.
North End's last win over the Latics came during a season that saw them record three victories over their fellow Lancastrians.
A league double thanks to a 1-0 win at Boundary Park and a 2-0 win at Deepdale came before an FA Cup win came just a week after the latter.
Team News
Jack King's mercurial performance at right back on Tuesday has given Graham Westley food for thought regarding his team selection for Saturday's game, particularly as Keith Keane is available again following his suspension.
David Buchanan limped off in the second half against Doncaster and could miss out.
Oldham are sweating over the fitness of French central defender Jean-Yves Moto.
The former Sunderland man limped out of Oldham's win at Crewe after twisting his ankle.
The Frenchman is responding well to treatment and will face a late fitness test.
James Tarkowski will deputise if called upon.
Played For Both (click here)