Town are back on home soil in league action with a fixture against Oldham Athletic – the first at The EnviroVent Stadium for six weeks.
And after a disappointing result away to Newport County last time out, Simon Weaver and his side will be aiming to get back to winning ways and end a run of six without a win in League Two.
Our opponents
Oldham are in their fourth consecutive campaign in League Two and parted company with manager Keith Curle at the end of November.
The Latics come into the game bottom of the league and four points from safety, having won four games this season and the 39 goals conceded being the third worst in the division. While at the other end, they have netted 22 times – a sharp contrast to last season where they had the second best attack.
They come into the game having not played since New Years Day and with one win in 12, but have posted back to back goalless draws in their two previous fixtures, both away from home.
Earlier in the season
Town came out on top in early October, their second successive victory at Boundary Park, as goals from Jack Diamond and Luke Armstrong gave Simon Weaver's side a 2-0 lead before some nervy final moments after Harry Vaughan pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining.
The man in charge
Selim Benachour is in the dug out for the Latics at the moment, appointed on a temporary basis following the departure of Keith Curle.
Benachour had previously been on the coaching staff at the club and this is his first significant managerial appointment following an almost two-decade playing career that spanned multiple clubs and countries.
Ones to watch
Davis Keillor-Dunn hit double figures last season and leads the way this time around having netted six goals to date. The dynamic Dylan Bahamboula has also added three goals and three assists.
Young midfielder Jamie Bowden had impressed on loan contributing four goals from a midfield position but he has since been recalled by Tottenham Hotspurs.
At the back is a familiar face to Town fans in former Salford defender Carl Piergianni, and he has netted three goals as well as notching three assists as a threat on set pieces and corners. He is partnered in defence by the dependable Harrison McGahey.
History
For much of their history the club competed outside of the top two divisions. The Latics heyday though came in the 1990's under Joe Royle and promotion was earned enabling the club to be one of the founder members of the Premier League.
Members of Royle's squad, such as Earl Barrett, Paul Warhurst and Dennis Irwin, subsequently made moves to bigger clubs and received international recognition, also netting the club significant transfer fees in the process.
During this time they reached the League Cup final as well as two FA Cup semi-finals but the club were relegated from the top flight in 1994 with Royle then departing for Everton. Former player Graham Sharp took charge but he failed to return them to the top flight and they were further relegated in 1997.
A string of managers tried and failed to get the club out of the third tier, often amidst off-field financial issues and the Latics were eventually relegated to League Two in 2018, for the first time in almost 50 years, where they have resided since.
Team news
Town will still be without the services of Jack Diamond, who continues to remain with parent club Sunderland. Simon Power will also be an absence following a new muscle tear which is set to keep him for eight weeks. Ryan Fallowfield, Will Smith and Aaron Martin are also doubts for the weekend.
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