MATCH PREVIEW: The Blues head to Oldham on Saturday

Back on the road for United

17 January 2020

Carlisle are back to league action at the weekend as the make the trip to Oldham to face the Latics.

Jonny Smith Oldham were in action on Tuesday evening when they made the away trip to Stevenage, having ended a run of three games without a victory with a 1-1 away draw at troubled Macclesfield last Saturday.

The Latics edged the midweek encounter at the Lamex in terms of chances created, but bottom club Boro kept a tight ship and it ended as a 0-0 draw with the sides sharing the points.

December had been a much better month for Oldham, with two wins, a draw and just one defeat prior to the end-of-year visit of local rivals Salford City to Boundary Park, where the league new boys recorded a resounding 4-1 victory.

Looking for points and a climb up the table, Oldham will be seeking to extended their unbeaten two-game mini-run come 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Danger men include Jonny Smith, who has five goals and four assists to his name, and Desire Segbe Azankpo who has weighed in with four. Mohammed Maouche and Christopher Missilou have three-a-piece.

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From Chris Beech ...

Speaking ahead of the game, Chris Beech said: "The challenge for us is to maintain the levels we saw on Wednesday night against Cardiff.

"The players will prepare properly and go out to do just that, but the beauty of the sport we work in is that it's so unpredictable.

"We work hard every day to try to make sure that we go into every game with momentum, and within that we have to make sure we react to setbacks and bumps in the road properly.

"To be fair, the lads have done that in the 10 games since I came here, but it's about getting a more consistent output in every game so that we give ourselves every chance of getting the results we want.

"Oldham will go into it looking for the points for their own reasons and we have to be ready for that. They have good players and they won't be happy with where they are, but neither are we.

"It'll be a tough game, away games always are, but we're going there looking to build on the confidence we've seen build within the group over the last few weeks."

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Did You Know?

+ Pine Villa was formed in 1895 but on 4 July 1899 they ceased to exist ... however, there were no tears, because the name was changed and the birth of Oldham Athletic came about.

Oldham 1992

+ Oldham were founder members of the Premier League back in the 1992/93 season, and stayed in the top flight for three seasons - one campaign in the old First Division, two in the Premier League.

+ Latics fell on hard times and were forced to go into administration in the summer of 2003, but some much-needed financial stability was provided when three American-based businessmen - Simon Blitz, Simon Corney and Danny Gazal - purchased the club the following November.

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Head to Head

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Oldham wins
League	30	18	25
FA Cup	1	0	1
Cup	3	1	0
League Cup	2	1	1
Total	36	20	27

The last meeting between these teams was in September 2019 when a goal from Olufela Olomola with just three minutes on the clock proved to be enough to help the Blues to three points here at Brunton Park.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Prior to that we saw them on Boxing Day in 2018 - and what a day it turned out to be! The Blues scored with almost every shot they had on target, but the afternoon became more notable for a post-match interview which saw then manager John Sheridan talk with a less than positive attitude about the players in his dressing room.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The first game between these teams last season was in October 2018 at Boundary Park. United deservedly took the lead when Macaulay Gillesphey kept the ball alive at the back post. His header invited Hallam Hope to steam in and apply the finishing touch. Hope turned provider to set up Ashley Nadesan early in the second half, and a wonderful piece of skill from Jack Sowerby wrapped things up just two minutes later. Oldham bagged a consolation with 20 minutes left to play, but there was little else they could do to eat into United's lead.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Prior to that, our visitors were up here at Brunton Park for an FA Cup first round fixture at the beginning of November 2017. Oldham lad Richie Bennett bagged a brace and, along with a good finish from Hallam Hope, that was enough to see the Blues through to the next round despite second half goals from Peter Clarke and Aaron Holloway.

Watch the GoPro highlights from that game here:

Rewind another year and we were the guests of the Latics for what turned into an unbelievable game in the Checkatrade Trophy group stages. Billy McKay opened the scoring for the hosts, and it all sparked up from there, to say the least.

Michael Raynes, Tom Miller, Reggie Lambe and Charlie Wyke scored for United (complemented by an own goal from Cameron Burgess) and Darius Osei (2) and Oliver Banks added to the net bulging to bring it to a 5-4 conclusion in favour of the Cumbrians.

There was even time for Macaulay Gillesphey to get sent off along the way.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

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Man in the middle:

The referee for this game is Mr Robert Lewis. Robert has taken charge of 20 games so far this season, showing 75 yellow cards and four reds.

He was last the man in the middle here at Brunton Park in January 2019 when we beat Mansfield 3-2. Hallam Hope [2] and Jack Sowerby bagged our goals, with Matt Preston and Tyler Walker notching for the Stags. Neal Bishop was dismissed as he walked down the tunnel at half time in what was a feisty encounter.

We saw him prior to that when he was at Brunton Park for our 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lincoln towards the end of the 2017/18 season. Matt Green scored what turned out to be the winner just before the break, and Tom Parkes and Jamie Devitt had their names taken in what was a feisty encounter.

A busy day for the referee was capped off in time added on when he showed Mike Jones a red card for a second rash challenge.

He was also the man in the middle for our trip to Grimsby earlier that season. Clint Hill scored the winner with 20 minutes left to play and there were no cards shown at all on the day.

Referee - Robert Lewis
Assistant Referee 1 - Steven Rushton
Assistant Referee 2 - Geoffrey Liddle
Fourth Official - Lewis Smith

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Ticket information

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Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Latics 1 - 1 United

Report from the Saturday afternoon away game

18 January 2020

United were back on the road on Saturday afternoon but it was for the relatively short trip into Greater Manchester to face Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

Boss Chris Beech made two changes from the midweek encounter with Cardiff with new signing Max Hunt, a permanent capture from Derby, given his full debut. Fellow new faces Nick Anderton and Josh Kayode took a place on the bench.

Oldham had the first foray when Rowe found space in midfield. He took it forward, and his cross was blocked as blue shirts converged. N'Guessan arrived late to shoot as it spun clear but Webster sprinted forward to make a block.

The Latics came again with another attack down the right wing as they camped forward in numbers. Rowe called for it but he dragged his shot wide as he stepped inside to try to make space.

Hosts Oldham had a goal ruled out for offside on six minutes when Azankpo was judged to have sprung the trap too early when he made a run from deep.

Long throws from Hamer caused problems through what was a good opening spell for the hosts, but the back line did well to keep chances at a minimum. Crosses from Mills also had to be dealt with, and Collin was needed to push a snapshot from Missilou behind as it came at him from a tight angle.

Midfielder Mauoche was next to try his luck when he went for it from distance. It skipped off the surface and Collin dived long to push it behind. Two corners followed, the first was cleared by Hayden and the second was brought to an abrupt halt for a foul on the Carlisle stopper.

Winger Harry McKirdy screwed a volley over the bar after he had beaten his man with a neat bit of control, as the Cumbrians tried to get a foothold in the game, and a slip from Piergianni as Thomas came for a challenge was followed by a foul on the winger which gave Watt a chance to deliver. It was whipped in but Missilou got up to clear.

Carlisle suddenly looked confident and Thomas won a corner following a quick free kick with Watt. That was twice cleared by Azankpo, but the away side stayed forward and a one-two between Jones and Thomas brought a fantastic near post delivery from the latter. Byron Webster had followed the move and he made no mistake with a firm near post header.

Oldham almost capitalised on a free kick of their own when Pergianni jumped highest to meet a floated clip. His header looped over Collin but it angled for the corner flag with Missilou unable to apply a touch.

The Latics probed as they looked for a response but they got no purchase whatsoever from a defence that looked strong and resolute.

And the home side created more of their own problems on 40 minutes when they showed clumsy possession in midfield. McKirdy was sent into the box but he put his shot right at De La Paz as he dropped a shoulder to let loose.

Oldham broke from the scare and a low cross from Missilou made its way all the way through to Smith. He let one fly but it bulged into the side netting.

There was no such luck for the Blues moments later when the same player cut inside again. His left-footed shot took a deflection off Hunt and Collin could do nothing as it flew into his net.

And it was almost more bad news in time added on for the half for Carlisle when a parry on the line from Collin, as he saw a delivery from Mauoche late, sat up for Smith. He was just four yards out but it ricocheted off his shin and the grateful keeper was able to gather it in.

Carlisle opened the second 45 minutes on the attack after the break and a run from Thomas took him into the area. His poked cross was put behind, and Hayden was disappointed not to get a touch to the corner that followed. The inswinger from Thomas was missed by the defender and clipped to safety by Wheater.

Good build up play from the away side saw Scougall and McKirdy combine to give Hope room to make a choice. He went for a shot from 23-yards but the keeper got there just in time with a strong hand as the ball threatened to find the top corner.

A nervy spell saw both sides concede possession in the middle areas, but there was better from Thomas when he got his head down to go on a run. He rifled it as he entered the area but a boot from the keeper was enough to make the save.

Another winding run from Thomas saw him leave four players in his wake and he spotted McKirdy on his own on the left hand edge of the box. He tried to guide a shot at the top corner but it came off the top of his boot and skied high into the stands.

United missed a fantastic chance to get back in front just past the hour when a free kick from Thomas was rolled cheekily to Scougall. His cruncher was saved but the ball spun up off the grass and invited McKirdy to head it. He got there, but he couldn't keep it down and it dropped onto the roof of the net.

Thomas had another good run thwarted at one end, and Sylla suffered the same fate at the other, with the game hanging finely in the balance. A Piergianni header from a Maouche corner was straight at Collin, and a Hope shot from 24-yards was also too close to De La Paz for it to cause a real problem.

A winding run from Smith brought another effort which Collin easily took, and a fierce effort from Rowe from 17-yards was blocked by Hunt as he stood tall to get in the way as it arrowed for the roof of the target.

The Latics missed a great chance themselves on 80 minutes when Sylla feinted before ripping the ball into the mix. Rowe stuck a boot out but the touch lacked purpose and the ball spun away.

Collin raced off his line to prevent Dearnley from making a heavy touch into something meaningful late in the day, but defences stayed tight through the closing stages and the sides had to settle for a share of the points.

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Goals

Oldham Athletic - Smith (42)

Carlisle United - Webster (25)

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Bookings

Oldham Athletic - Azankpo (22)

Carlisle United - Hayden (52)

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Teams

Oldham Athletic - De La Paz (gk), Mills, Maouche, Missilou (Sylla 66), Azankpo (Wilson 30, Dearnley 72)), N'Gueesan, Smith, Wheater, Piergianni, Hamer, Rowe. Subs - Allen (gk), Iacovitti, Nepomunceno, Branger-Engore.

Carlisle United - Collin (gk)(c), Hayden, Webster, Hunt, G Jones, M Jones, Watt (Kayode 53), Scougall, McKirdy (Charters 86), Thomas (Loft 90), Hope. Subs - Gray (gk), Iredale, Sagaf, Anderton.

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Match officials

Referee - Robert Lewis
Assistant Referee 1 - Steven Rushton
Assistant Referee 2 - Geoffrey Liddle
Fourth Official - Lewis Smith

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Attendance - 3,977 (573 away fans)

Carlisle United Football Club

Standings

MATCH PREVIEW: The Blues head to Oldham on Saturday

MATCH REPORT: Latics 1 - 1 United