- Oldham have won eight, drawn six and lost eight of their 22 away league games, conceding just 1.05 goals per away match.
- Newport have won five, drawn four and lost 13 of their 22 League Two home games, conceding an average of 1.59 goals per game at Rodney Parade.
- Mike Fondop-Talum is Oldham’s main scoring threat this term, netting eight goals in 40 league appearances.
High-flying Latics may just edge it at Rodney Parade
Oldham Athletic’s recent form has been below par, but they are still fancied to edge a tight contest against Newport County at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
Micky Mellon’s men sit 11th in League Two on 65 points from their 44 games so far, 28 points better off than Newport who are 22nd on 37 points after the same number of matches. Oldham have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five in the fourth tier, including back-to-back away defeats against Shrewsbury Town and Barrow.
The Latics’ head-to-head record against Newport is superior with the visitors running out 3-0 winners when these sides met in League Two five months ago. With their slightly superior league position this term, the Latics are worth a punt at 143/100 for the away win here.
Tactical clash of three-at-the-back systems awaits
A clash of styles is anticipated at Rodney Parade as Christian Fuchs’ pragmatic, direct style looks to counter Mellon’s high-press, route-one approach. Fuchs has got his players to stay compact and play with intensity in their 3-5-2 system, using his wing-backs to provide width and supply to target striker Nathaniel Opoku, who leads the team with six goals in 30 League Two games.
Mellon’s Oldham side attempt to overpower their opponents with their high-tempo game and will look to dominate the wide areas with their overlapping wing-backs in a bid to get into the half-spaces. Jamie Robson is the chief provider from midfield for the Latics, notching three assists and a goal in his last five appearances.
Newport’s form has been mixed, with two wins and three defeats in their last five, including a 2-1 home win over Harrogate Town. Oldham are on a three-game losing streak, including consecutive away defeats to Shrewsbury Town and Barrow, and can beat a County team that aren’t as defensively solid as they have been in previous seasons. With Oldham’s superior league status, recent H2H record and the home side’s defensive vulnerabilities, we are taking the visitors to edge a close contest on Saturday.
Oldham can edge an open affair
The odds for both teams to score are a shade too short for this game in our opinion, so we’re going with ‘Both Teams to Score - No’ at 24/25. A low-scoring affair is expected, but with the potential for both sides to play at pace and with purpose, the Under 2.5 goals market looks a good alternative at 39/50.
