Preview - May I first start this preview by saying the following - how nice it has been to receive a request from the Crewe-mad.co.uk website to answer a few questions for them. Even better is the fact we've told them where to shove that request.
I have no qualms with helping out fellow fans and fellow sites, as many in this division will tell you. Notts County, Chesterfield and others always share information with me before games. However, my actions on this occasion stems from a rather childish and arrogant Crewe-mad page which was displayed last Tuesday before the Latics played Brentford. Yes, Mr Crewe editor, I saw that so called article which was actually classed as news, but was really a nonsense piece along the lines of "Come on you Bees, thrash the Oldham". Who the hell are you to be calling us "the scum in Manchester" and then come asking us to be all nicey-nicey with you? I don't think so.
http://www.crewe-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=83810
So my estimations of Crewe, or more to the point, of their fans, has gone down somewhat in recent weeks. The site also had much criticism of our superb, hard-fought win at Gresty Road which received nothing in way of applaud. I bet we were one of the best teams to show up there this season. Mr Crewe editor - rather than writing a report like that, why don't you ask Mr Gradi why he totally changed your formation that day to accommodate Jack, Ashton and Hulse. That worked in our favour much more than if we had 2 central strikers to contain. You were well beaten my friend!
For me, this game has much higher importance now. It's so easy to develop a rivalry and such articles like Mr Crewe's added suitable fuel to the flames. How nice it would be to do the double over a club I once had admiration for, but now just appears as cocky and full of itself. Gradi bemoaned the sending off during our win, but in truth Foster should have been shown a red card for upending Andrews for the penalty, as he was the last man. Some people have short memories.
So turning attentions to the Latics and all the talk at Boundary Park recently has been about decent results being tarnished through appalling referees. After the aforementioned Brentford match, fans walked away scratching their heads after witnessing the most appalling referee ever. That was a game we won and won well, but something is wrong when all you can think of is the performance of the man in the middle. That was followed up by another moron at Wycombe and I find myself very irritating because I hate to discuss referees. They're like children - they should be seen and not heard but all we can do at present is discuss the little s***s. Ironically though, this Crewe game will see our first game suspension free for, well, I can't remember when. Answers on a postcard.
The Latics have really come into their own recently and despite playing against 12 men in our last few games, we remain unbeaten in 7 games and have lost just the 1 in 14. However, despite feeling much more confident and optimistic about our home performances, and despite the fact there are no suspensions tomorrow, it's a sign of what we're up against when we get news that 3 of last Saturday's starting line up might be ruled out.
Will Haining, Julien Baudet and Wayne Andrews could miss the game with knocks, although news that they all trained on Friday is encouraging. Even if any of the players are absent though, we still have a fairly solid team and it is the depth of this squad which has taken the Latics into 2nd spot. If any changes are necessary, Armstrong would fit into defence with Eyres reclaiming his left wing berth. In midfield, Darren Sheridan would replace Baudet whilst upfront, Killen would partner Burgess. However, hopefully these changes won't be necessary and the same team will start.
Crewe will come to Boundary Park and probably look to kick the Latics all over the place. I'm not labelling them a dirty side by saying that, but teams now see us at the bottom of the fair play league and look to wind us up, hoping we'll snap. It's the Paul Merson scenario - he says he'll leave Portsmouth if they don't win promotion because referees allow teams in the Nationwide to be aggressive and he's had enough of being kicked about. Our 11 must feel like that every game. We have had no protection and thus Dario Gradi will look to upset us in this way. Hopefully this will be pulled up early on and proper football can commence. Our tails are up now and I expect it to be tough as Crewe are a decent attacking side. But the Latics should win this one, probably by the same margin.
Prediction: 2-1 to the Latics.
Predicted line up: GK - Pogliacomi, DF - Berahall, Hall, Haining, MD - Armstrong, Duxbury, Eyre, Baudet, Murray, FW - Burgess, Andrews