Everything that you need to know ahead of our FA Cup with Budweiser Second Round tie at Oldham Athletic on Saturday…
TEAM NEWS:
Midfielder Adam Murray could feature in the tie at Boundary Park, having returned to the club following his loan spell at Worksop Town.
Jamie McGuire is also eligible to play, having completed a three-match ban for a red card he received in our Sky Bet League Two match with Oxford United.
Chris Clements, who was substituted as a precautionary measure in our clash with Morecambe last Saturday, is also expected to be involved.
However, Lee Stevenson looks set to be sidelined with a slight calf tear, whilst Ritchie Sutton will be out of action until early in the New Year.
Oldham will be without striker Charlie McDonald, who has been ruled out for between four and six weeks with a grade two tear of the thigh muscle.
Youngster Kirk Millar is also on the treatment table, having sustained an ankle injury whilst on international duty with Northern Ireland last month.
As a result, Latics boss Lee Johnson may choose to sign a free agent striker in the coming days.
RECENT FORM:
Our side are currently 28 places below the Latics in the football pyramid and go into this match without a win in their last 10 league matches.
By contrast, Oldham are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to eight matches, which would represent their best run since the 2008/09 campaign.
RECENT CUP HISTORY:
The Latics boast plenty of recent pedigree in the FA Cup with Budweiser.
Only 11 months ago, they beat Liverpool in a thrilling tie at Boundary Park, before bowing out of the competition to Everton in a Fifth Round Replay at Goodison Park.
In the last decade, Oldham have also reached the Third Round on five occasions – with Manchester City (2005), Everton (2008) and Nottingham Forest (2013) amongst their cup victims.
Nevertheless, our side also boast many happy memories in this competition in recent years.
In the 2012/13 campaign, we reached the Third Round for the first time in five years, where Luis Suarez’s hotly-disputed goal saw us narrowly beaten by Liverpool.
In 2006, we also lost to Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the Third Round, whilst two years later, we beat Brighton & Hove Albion en route to a Fourth Round tie with Middlesbrough.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The Latics boast the superior head-to-head record, having won 25 of the 54 previous meetings.
In August 2007, on our last visit to Boundary Park, we slipped to a 4-1 defeat as Neil Kilkenny, Jean-Paul Kalala, Deane Smalley and Craig Davies all on target for Oldham.
Our last victory over the Latics was 35 years ago in April 1978, when we were 1-0 winners at Boundary Park.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Mr Iain Williamson has been appointed as the referee for this match. He will be ably assisted by Mr Glen Hart and Mr Richard Wigglesworth. The Fourth Official is Mr William Smallwood.
MATCH TICKETS:
Tickets are on general sale and can be purchased in advance from our box office at One Call Stadium until 4.00pm on Friday 06 December. Supporters can also pay at the turnstiles on matchday at Boundary Park.
We will be housed in an all-seater section of the Verlin Stand (Rochdale Road End). Up to 1,600 supporters can be accommodated.
Admission/Ticket Prices are as follows:
£20 Adults
£10 Senior Citizens (65+), Under 16s
£5 Under 12s.
Wheelchair and ambulant disabled supporters will be charged £20, with a carer admitted free-of-charge.
Please note that Oldham Athletic have informed us that there will be no student tickets for this match.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
- By Road…
Leave the M62 at Junction 20 and take the A627(M) towards Oldham. Now, take the second slip road off the A627(M) and follow the signs for Royton (A663). At the top of the slip road, you will come to a large roundabout near to both a McDonalds and a KFC. At this roundabout, turn left onto the A663 towards Royton and you will be able to see Boundary Park in the distance. Take the next right hand turn into Hilbre Avenue, which leads to the large club car park.
- By Rail…
Oldham is served by trains and trams from Manchester Victoria. Mills Hill (Rail) and Freehold (Metrolink) are both approximately 30 minutes on foot from Boundary Park. A taxi from either station will cost in the region of £5.
- Parking…
There is a large car park situated next to Boundary Park. Parking costs £5 for cars, £10 for minibuses and £15 for coaches.
COMMENTARY:
If you aren’t travelling to Boundary Park this weekend, you can listen to full-match commentary on Stags Player (online) and Mansfield 103.2 (local radio only).
Furthermore, you can also hear full-match commentary in the Sandy Pate Sports Bar, which is open from 12noon.
Mansfield 103.2’s ‘Stags FM’ show begins at 1.00pm. To subscribe to Stags Player, click here.
