The games continue to come thick and fast for United, as Oldham are up next at the fan-filled Abbey.
The return of fans didn’t quite go to plan on Wednesday night as Bonner’s men fell to a 1-0 defeat against Mansfield. We’re on a bit of a bad run at the moment, which needs to stop ASAP, so Oldham’s visit couldn’t come at a better time. Let’s put Wednesday’s result behind us and get back to winning ways.
One of the big talking points from the Mansfield game was the loss of Hiram Boateng to a shoulder injury and how long that will keep him out for. With Liam O’Neil seemingly no closer to returning the obvious choice to replace Boateng is Adam May, who’s form this season has been somewhat inconsistent.
Expected U’s Line-Up: Mitov, Knoyle, Cundy, Taylor, Dunk, Hannant, May, Digby, Iredale, Ironside, Mullin
Not much for Bonner to play around with then – but question marks remain over the effectiveness of Wes Hoolahan on the wing – we discussed this in our Mansfield match report, where he was the central hub of our team, but ultimately ineffective. Do you drop our -on paper- best player? How do you fit in him to a 4-4-2, as we know from experience 4-4-1-1 leaves Mullin frustratingly isolated? Big questions and it’s something Bonner needs to figure out. Otherwise the defence picks itself, and Mullin and Ironside should start.
Who’s Their Player to Watch? Cameron Borthwick-Jackson joined Oldham in the summer after being released by Manchester United, where he spent five years, making ten first team appearances, although most of his football came via loans to Leeds, Wolves, Scunthorpe, Tranmere and Oldham. A dynamic left back, he’ll relish the challenge of coming up against our attack.
Who’s In The Dugout? Harry Kewell, three years into his managerial career, Kewell is on his third club, having had previous spells at Crawley and Notts Country. Best known for his time at Leeds and Liverpool in the Premier League as well as a lengthly International career for Australia where he played at two World Cups.
What’s Their Recent Form Like? Last 5, P5, W3, D0, L2, Scored 8, Conceded 8
Any Ex-United Players? Nope. Unless you mean Manchester United, in which case pretty much their entire squad seems to have been on the books at Old Trafford at some point.
Last Time Out: Cambridge 1-2 Oldham, 24 August 2019
A defensive horrorshow and a Marc Richards goal. Thank God times have changed. This was only just over a year ago, but it feels like a lifetime as Colin Calderwood started the new season as it was meant to go on, namely crap defending and loads of defeats.
From The Archive: Cambridge 1-1 Oldham, 9 March 2019
YouTube really isn’t kind to us sometimes, there’s no footage of our 1-0 League Cup win in 1992, nor our 3-1 win at Boundary Park in 2000. Nothing from the 80’s or 90’s either, so we present to you this draw at the Abbey from a couple of seasons ago. Jabo Ibehre missing sitters, Gary Deegan shouting a lot but not really doing anything else, and Harrison Dunk scoring an own goal. It’s not pretty viewing. Sorry.
UTAS Moosenet Tip: If for some reason you’re still listening to us, United 2-0, Ironside.
Under The Abbey Stand 
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