Welcome to today's issue of 
 
The Unofficial Daily On-line e-zine for  236 Oldham Athletic Supporters Worldwide
 
Today's Edition for
 
    25th January 2002 
The logo's are used with the permission of Oldham Athletic Football Club
 Oldham Evening Chronicle (www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk) WIN OR BUST ATHLETIC’S promotion dream could be shot to pieces tomorrow if they fail to beat struggling Bournemouth. That’s the forthright view of Mick Wadsworth, who insists his team MUST win if they are to make the play-offs. The Boundary Park clash is a chance to make up lost ground after Athletic were beaten 3-2 at Port Vale on Tuesday. And, with three months of the season still to go, Wadsworth will tell his players it’s win or bust. He said: “If we have any ambition to reach the play-offs, we have to win tomorrow. “We can’t let ourselves down in any way, shape or form and we can’t even afford a draw. “Our home form has been good, so it’s vital we keep it up and carry on building. “If that puts pressure on the players, so be it – they should respond to the challenge.” Athletic have won four league games out of five at Boundary Park since Wadsworth took over in November. But away results have been patchy in that time, leaving them in a chasing pack just outside the vital top six. Allan Smart could be back in Wadsworth’s plans tomorrow after missing two games through a blow to the head and an injured ankle. The striker was due to train this morning and, before testing out his ankle, was given a 50-50 chance. Athletic will be otherwise unchanged from the squad at Port Vale, where they played some good attacking football but conceded soft goals. Midfielder Matty Appleby and goalkeeper Paul Rachubka are both expected to play despite suffering with a virus. ATHLETIC (from): Rachubka, McNiven, Balmer, Beharall, Armstrong, Duxbury, Appleby, Murray, Eyre, Eyres, Corazzin, J Sheridan, Tipton, Holden, Baudet, Rickers, Hardy, Smart. Beleaguered Bournemouth have failed to win in their last 11 matches. To add to their problems, they are likely to be without two key players. Attacking midfielder James Hayter is a major doubt. He has a hip injury sustained in midweek at QPR, where he collided with goalkeeper Fraser Digby. Loan signing J J Melligan, also a midfield player, has returned to Wolves for treatment on the ankle injury sustained against Huddersfield last Saturday. Meanwhile, striker Steve Fletcher, the Cherries captain, remains out with a long-term knee injury. Boundary Park can be a fortress in bid for promotion ATHLETIC will stay on course for their best home record since dropping out of the Premiership if they beat struggling Bournemouth tomorrow. They have won nine league games out of 14 at Boundary Park, while only two teams in the second division have leaked fewer home goals. Defending your own patch is a prerequisite for success – when did you last see a team promoted with more than a handful of defeats? The signs for Athletic are good. They have so far won nine, drawn three and lost two, scoring 28 goals and conceding 10. It has to be allied to good away form, of course, but making Boundary Park a feared destination would be a good way to start. And there is no time to waste as they have yet to entertain promotion chasers Brighton, Tranmere, Brentford, Cardiff, Stoke and Queens Park Rangers. Losing top-flight status in 1994 meant Athletic’s home games increased from 19 to 23, so the last eight seasons bear comparison. The best was in 97/98 when, with Neil Warnock as manager, the record was won 13, drawn seven, lost three, for 43, against 23. Despite the tough run coming up, Athletic’s new-look side can better that record and, in the process, take vital points off their closest rivals. But be warned. Of the current top 10, only Reading, Bristol City and Huddersfield have visited – and Athletic took a solitary point. First thing’s first, and pools punters will be banking on a home win tomorrow when Bournemouth make the long journey north. The Cherries have been pulled into a surprise relegation scrap after managing one away win all season. They were always going to miss Jermaine Defoe, who scored a hatful last term on loan from West Ham, but possess enough ability to be mid-table at worst. It could be delayed reaction to last season when seemingly sure of a play-off spot, they were cruelly denied by a last-minute goal at Reading. When Athletic met Bournemouth in October, few could have known it was the beginning of the end for Andy Ritchie. On a wet Friday night at non-league Dorchester (Dean Court’s revamp wasn’t finished at the time) the visitors started a losing run which cost them their manager. Ritchie’s table-toppers made a dream start when Matthew Tipton seized on a back-pass to score after only 21 seconds. But Bournemouth produced a seven-minute blitz and won 3-2 – although their comeback was slightly overshadowed that weekend by England versus Greece, a certain  free-kick and a certain David Beckham. Sean O’Driscoll’s side have undoubted quality in the shape of midfielders Richard Hughes, who turned down an expensive move to Wigan this season, and Wade Elliott. Striker Warren Feeney was a summer signing from Leeds and is reaching peak form after hitting two goals in a week to make it seven for the season. The first was at home to Huddersfield last Saturday when Bournemouth failed to recover from going 3-0 down before half-time. O’Driscoll said it was their worst 45 minutes since he took over in August, 2002, and demanded a vast improvement at QPR on Tuesday. He got it, with Feeney heading home the equaliser to earn an unexpected, and deserved, point. QPR’s draw did Athletic a big favour in the play-off chase. Now they have to make sure they don’t suffer the same fate themselves. 
 Official Oldham Athletic Web Site (www.oldhamathletic.co.uk)Content from the Oldham Athletic Web Site is used with permission of Oldham Athletic Football Club Manchester United 4 Oldham Athletic 1

The Official Website spoke to David Cross about the defeat in the Manchester Senior Cup to Manchester United. "We started very well, without exaggeration, we could have been two up in the first ten minutes, a good chance where Ryan Sugden did well and it's not a complaint but we missed the chance to score and weren't ruthless enough to put the ball in the back of the net". "If we could have been three up after fifteen minutes, it probably would have been right, but Manchester United are very clever and calculated.  I've watched their reserves a lot this season and they don't get flustered by errors, it doesn't worry them, they get on with what they have to do and pass it around". "Gradually they got in the game and for half an hour we did very well.  Then they scored a goal through good quality, we felt before the game we knew how they would attack us and scored a goal representative of what we had said before the game.  They're very clever in and around the box, we told them to keep Chadwick out wide because he is less effective out on the wing than he is coming into the box.  They worked a ball down the middle to score and then they got another goal, which flattened us a little bit". "Thankfully for us, we got a goal before half time through a penalty for handball, Matthew Tipton scored that and we went in at half time at 2-1.  I honestly felt we would get something out of the game but inside the first ten minutes of the second half, we made two basic errors and let in two goals.  From then on it was men against boys and if it were not for Gary Kelly it could have been 9-1.  He made some good saves and it was one way traffic until the last ten minutes when we brought a few kids on a might have grabbed a consolation.  At 4-1 though, you're never going to get back into the game".  
Website To Broadcast Live Commentary From Away Games

When Latics travel to Notts County on Saturday 2nd February, supporters who can't make the game will be able to tune into the web and hear the match LIVE through Latics Live! commentary. What's more Latics Live! will now bring commentary from ALL away games as well as home. And, for those fans wanting to get some in-depth pre match knowledge they will be able to tune in to Latics Live! (produced by Radio Cavell) on 1350AM on Matchdays from approx. 1:30pm. It is expected Latics Live! will bring you interviews with the players and the staff along with all the latest news coming out of Boundary Park. Something not to be missed. And on the way home fans will also be able to hear post match news and views. So to hear the launch of Latics's very own commentary through the web make sure you make a date of logging on Saturday 2nd February. 

 TEAMtalk (www.teamtalk.co.uk) Smart return for Latics 
Striker Allan Smart is set to give The Latics a boost for Saturday's visit of struggling Bournemouth by returning following his ankle injury. The 28-year-old Scot has missed the last two games with the injury but it has been responding to treatment and he will take a late fitness test to determine if he is ready to compete. If he does get the nod as expected, John Eyre and Carlo Corazzin will be fighting for the second striker's spot. Canadian international Corazzin has scored two goals in as many games after proving his fitness following a double hernia operation. The biggest doubt is on-loan midfielder Matty Appleby, who is a victim of the sickness bug which is sweeping the country. The 29-year-old Barnsley man, who Mick Wadsworth is keen to sign in a permanent deal, will be checked out on Saturday morning. 
If he has not recovered, his natural replacement will be veteran John Sheridan who was rested from the midweek defeat at Port Vale. Goalkeeper Paul Rachubka, in his third month on loan from Manchester United, has also been unwell and veteran stopper Gary Kelly is included in the squad as cover. The reverse at Vale Park cost The Latics the chance of moving into the play-off places and saw them drop down the table to eighth. But Wadsworth insisted: "We are still in a good position.
"We have lost two in the last seven and have averaged two points a game - that is promotion form. "The defeat at Port Vale was disappointing, but there is no reason why we can't get another run going." Bournemouth are currently the worst performers in the Second Division and have slumped to just above the drop zone. But Wadsworth warned: "They will be scrapping for their lives and we can't afford any slip-ups. "With nine wins, three draws and just two defeats, our home form has been good, we must make sure it stays that way." Latics from: Rachubka, McNiven, Beharall, Balmer, Armstrong, Duxbury, Murray, J Sheridan, Eyres, Corazzin, Smart, Eyre, Tipton, Appleby, Holden, Baudet, Rickers and Kelly. 
Latics well-beaten in cup The Latics slumped to another heavy defeat in the Manchester Senior Cup on Thursday night as they went down 4-1 to Manchester United. The heavy defeat at non-league Altrincham's ground follows a similar scoreline earlier in the month against Manchester City. United put out a strong side and included four players from their first-team squad. One of them, John O'Shea, gave away a penalty for The Latics goal. He pushed Paul Rickers in the box and Matthew Tipton comfortably converted the spot-kick. The next match in the round-robin competition will be against Bury on a date yet to be fixed.

Barlow's video appeal Former Latics striker Stuart Barlow is looking for video footage to help chart his career and is appealing to fans for help. The player, who is now with Tranmere, is anxious to track down videos from the three seasons he spent at Boundary Park. They were 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/8. If anyone can help they can contact Diane Cheetham at the Latics club shop on 0161 652 0966. All videos will be returned to the lender. Striker doubtful for Oldham trip Make-shift striker James Hayter is a major doubt ahead of tomorrow's Second Division clash away at Oldham. The 22-year-old, who has been partnering Irishman Warren Feeney up front in recent weeks, was stretchered off after colliding with QPR keeper Fraser Digby during Tuesday's 1-1 draw. Physio John Cooper says Hayter has only a 50-50 chance of travelling to Boundary Park where Bournemouth will be looking to pick up their first win in 11 games. Midfielder Brian Stock is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season during the Cherries 4-3 defeat at Blackpool two weeks ago. Meanwhile loan-midfielder JJ Melligan has returned to Wolves for treatment after injuring his ankle against Huddersfield and will not play, but striker Tresor Kandol, will return to the squad. Kandol has been out of training for most of the past fortnight with a groin injury. Striker Amos Foyewa is unlikely to feature. Bournemouth: (from) Stewart, Howe, Tindall, Broadhurst, Birmingham, Purches, Elliott, Hughes, C Fletcher, Holmes, Feeney, Menetrier, Eribenne, O'Connor, Smith, Kandol, Ford, Maher. 
Search on ice Sean O'Driscoll has put his striker search on ice until after tomorrow's trip to Oldham after missing out on David Kelly. The veteran front-man has snubbed a move to Dorset and will instead link up with a league of Ireland club after being released by Scottish Premier Leaguers Motherwell last week. Kelly spoke to O'Driscoll on Wednesday and a move to Dean Court was discussed but an offer to return to his homeland proved too good for the 36-year-old to turn down. O'Driscoll said: "I knew David from his time at Sheffield United and I know that even at 36 he's a great professional and he would have been a great role model for the younger players here.
"But I knew he had another couple of things in the pipeline and he has decided to go and play in Ireland which is his prerogative. "David has a young family and that move will allow him to spend more time with them. It's unfortunate for us but he has always been straight with us and you have to give him credit for that." Kelly is no stranger to the English game having turned out in the Premiership for both Newcastle and Sunderland in recent seasons. He made more than 140 appearances for Walsall before moving to West Ham and 1988 and has since gone on to play for Tranmere, Leicester and Wolves. O'Driscoll is keen to add more fire-power to his squad having seen them go 11 games without a win since a 3-0 victory over non-league Worksop on November 17. 

Contributions and letters should be sent to Gary Davies by e-mail at LaticsGary@ntlworld.comor at Boundary Bullet-zine,41 Verney Road,Royton,Oldham,United Kingdom.OL2 6AZ07786 928689Or in the Setons Chaddy end Row R Seats 67 & 68Boundary Bullet-zine Archive can be found at http://www.oocities.org/laticsgary.geo.The views expressed on this e-zine are not the views of Oldham Athletic F.C. nor necessarily the views of the Editor.This e-zine is a unofficial publication NOT sanctioned by Oldham Athletic Football Club.The editor will not publish any letters containing bad language.This e-zine is written using Microsoft Outlook Express and is best viewed with the HTML (rich) text option enabled.