PREVIEW - Division Two Match: Oldham Athletic Vs. Colchester United

The former Rushden & Diamonds manager will have to learn about his new squad fast. Former caretaker manager John Sheridan is now first team coach and second in command and will be vital early on.

After a good start Colchester have been slippig down the table and find themselves in 15^th place, six points ahead of the Latics. Wayne Andrews will be making his comeback to Boundary Park after leaving in the summer. Lets hope he receives a good reception, he doesn’t deserve any malice. Since leaving the club he has settled in well at Colchester and has notched up 13 goals so far this season. Another key player for the opposition will be the goalkeeper Simon Brown, he single-handedly won the points in the previous fixture against these two sides, however poor form of late has seen him dropped from the first team and he will do battle with Richard McKinney for the number one spot. Colchester loan player Rowan Vine earlier in the week signed a new 2 year contract at Portsmouth which could see him stay at Colchester on loan next season.

Previous Match

Oldham’s previous game against Colchester United ended in a 2-1 defeat at Layer Road. Karl Duguid put the U’s infront early in the second half before David Eyres managed to equalise from a free kick after just coming off the bench, Rowan Vine restored the lead minutes later and held out for the victory. Oldham had played very well that day and deserved something out of the game. It was also Iain Dowie’s last game in charge.

Lineups

Oldham Athletic: Pogliacomi, Griffin, Haining, Hall, Clegg, Murray, Boshell, Johnson, Cooksey, Zola, Eyre
Subs: Eyres, Vernon, Holden, Beherall, Westwood

Colchester United: Brown, Stockley, White, Chilvers, Johnson, Duguid, Izzet, Pinault, Vine, Andrews, McGleish
Subs: McKinney, Bowry, Fitzgerald, Keith, Cade


Team News

Oldham will be without the services of a number of players on Saturday. John Sheridan has now retired to concentrate on his coaching and so will be unavailable. David Beherall joins the injury list with broken ribs after a collision with Kieran Westwood in a reserve game earlier in the week, so far it isn’t known how long he’ll be out for. He joins regular casualties Matty Appleby and Chris Grange, both out for the season. Will Haining is also out for the game with strained ankle ligaments, he is likely to be back in a couple of weeks. Former Colchester player Ernie Cooksey is also ruled out through suspension but he will be back for the game against Barnsley. Paul Murray will be available to play after he rejected a move to Rotherham United but with interest from a number of clubs this could be his final game for the Latics. Darren Sheridan is called up to the squad for the first time since recovering from a leg fracture, Wes Wilkinson also gets his first call up to the squad following his signing from Nantwich Town. Brian Talbot announces a 19 man squad.

Oldham Squad: Pogliacomi, Westwood, Holden, D.Sheridan, Owen, Murray, Zola, Eyre, Wilkinson, Clegg, Schumacher, Vernon, Boshell, Killen, Griffin, Tierney, Eyres, Roca, Fleming

U’s manager Phil Parkinson will have a few absentees in his squad this weekend. Craig Fagan has been struck down with a virus and hasn’t been able to train all week so he will sit out the game. Karl Duguid and Scott McGleish haven’t recovered enough from medial knee ligament damage. Andy Myers is also out with a long term injury. Colchester announce a 17 man squad for the game.

Colchester Squad: McKinney, S.Brown, Crouch, Stockley, Halford, Baldwin, White, W.Brown, Chilvers, Bowry, Izzet, Pinault, Keith, Johnson, Cade, Andrews, Vine