OLDHAM V PNEFC

Oldham Athletic v PNE, Sat 28th Feb, 3pm

It’s all change at Oldham, with Dean Holden in charge of the Latics, following Lee Johnson’s decision to leave Boundary Park and join Barnsley as manager. Holden, Johnson’s first team coach, has added senior player Adam Lockwood to his support staff ahead of the visit of the Lilywhites. For North End it is a case of full steam ahead. Four clean sheets and four straight wins have narrowed the gap to the top two to just three points, but after some very tough games against Oldham in the last two years, they know this will be a very tough test of that excellent recent form. Holden, who was at Deepdale for Tuesday’s clash with Walsall, is also well aware of the test the Lilywhites will provide his team in what should be a fantastic ‘old’ Lancashire derby atmosphere. Team News Skipper Tom Clarke is Simon Grayson’s only concern, after the No.5 left the field early in the win over the Saddlers due to a clash of heads. Jermaine Beckford and Andy Little are both pushing for inclusion after proving their fitness with another week on the training field – meaning the gaffer has a number of options at his disposal. Caretaker boss Holden looks like being without George Elokobi and Joseph Mills after they were both withdrawn early in the loss to Leyton Orient last weekend. The new manager’s thoughts on team selection and tactics will be a closely guarded secret until kick-off, but his side will no doubt play with the passion and commitment he had as a player. Oldham Athletic last line-up (versus Leyton Orient, 21/02/15): Kean, B Wilson, J Wilson, Elokobi (Kusunga, 18), Mills (Brown, 46), Winchester, Kelly, Turner (Murphy, 58), Forte, Poleon, Philliskirk. Subs not used: Dieng, Coleman, Mellis, Lockwood. What The Manager’s Say Simon Grayson: “We won’t be aware of the system or the team that Dean will play and pick. He will want to implement his ideas, but it is about what we do. “If we go there and perform how we know we can do, then we have a good chance of winning the game, because we have some good players. “We are respectful of them and the fact they have a caretaker manager and players who will be looking to impress him and want to potentially try and get him the job.” Dean Holden: “It’s a great game. I went to watch them the other night against Walsall – you know what you are going to get. They are very organised, they have a very good manager with loads of experience. “They are strong, physical and are a very good working unit who know their own jobs, so it will be a very tough game. “For me it doesn’t matter who is in the dugout, it is about the players believing in themselves and carrying on the good work they have done under Lee Johnson and Tommy Wright.” From The Archives Last season North End kept kept up the pressure at the top of League One thanks to two Joe Garner strikes at the ten-man Latics. Chris Humphrey's deflected shot gave the Lilywhites the lead, and he later set up Garner for a two-yard tap-in. Gary Harkins lashed into the top corner from 12 yards for the home side to reduce the arrears. However, Jonson Clarke-Harris then saw red for handling Garner's shot on the line and, although the striker's penalty was saved, he did score with a dipping strike from 20 yards out late on. Oldham manager Lee Johnson said afterwards: "We were in the game when it was too late and it's not good, it's not good to watch. "We had no choice but to get our head down. "When you're up against the top side in the division, you have to make sure you're having a good day and for some reason the confidence looked a little low on the basics really." Oldham Athletic line-up: Oxley, Brown, Mellor, Smith, Lockwood, Grounds, Worrall (Kissock, 79), Wesolowski, MacDonald (Turner, 80), Philliskirk (Clarke-Harris, 58), Harkins. Subs not used: Dunfield, Winchester, Wilson, Rachubka. PNE line-up: Rudd, Wiseman, Laird, Kilkenny (Brownhill, 81), Clarke, King, Humphrey, Keane, C Davies (Beavon, 81), Garner (K Davies, 88), Gallagher. Subs not used: Stuckmann, Holmes, Buchanan, Hume. Referee: Mr S Martin Attendance: 6,698 The Match Official West Yorkshire official Mark Haywood takes charge of his second North End game of the season, having been the man with the whistle for the Capital One Cup tie with Middlesbrough earlier this season. He was a familiar face to North End fans in 2013/14, taking charge of the final game of 2013, when North End overcame Shrewsbury Town at Greenhous Meadow, 1-0; and then he took charge at Deepdale in April when the Lilywhites thumped Carlisle United 6-1, on a day that Paul Gallagher grabbed a hat-trick. So far this season he has taken charge of 29 games, issuing 89 cautions and three red cards, his last trip to Oldham was a 1-1 draw with Colchester in April 2013. Ticket Details Saturday is an all-ticket fixture and fans must purchase from the ticket office at Deepdale before travelling to Oldham on Saturday. PNE have been allocated almost 3,000 tickets and seven pairs of wheelchair and carer tickets, with close to 1,500 already sold. The tickets are priced as follows; adults £22, over 65s £12, U16s £10, U12s £5, ambulant or wheelchair disabled £22 (or relevant concessions plus carer free). Coach travel is also available from Deepdale and Leyland, departing at 12.45pm and is priced at £13 for adults and £11 for concessions. To get your tickets phone 0844 856 1966 or visit the ticket office in the Sir Tom Finney Stand before 4pm on Friday 27th February. How To Get To SportsDirect.Com Park Head down the M6 and then the M61. Continue on to M61 for approximately 20 miles and then take the exit onto M60 towards M66/M62/Ring Road N. Keep right to continue on M62 and then at junction 20 take the A627 (M) exit to Rochdale/Oldham. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto A627 (M) heading to Oldham. Take the A627/A663 exit towards Oldham/Royton/Shaw. Follow Chadderton Way and Westhulme way to Furtherwoods Road in Oldham and Boundary Park will be on the right. SportsDirect.Com Park Post Code OL1 2PA Match Coverage If you can’t get to SportsDirect.Com Park, Jonathan Breeze will be live on PNE Player from 2.30pm bringing you live and uninterrupted match commentary. As well as the live coverage you can follow the game through our social media channels and you will be able to watch highlights and read and watch all the reaction from Sunday. Click here to watch Simon Grayson’s PNE Player preview Click here to see what Joe Garner has to say ahead of the trip to SportsDirect.Com Park Have A Bet On The Game PNE to win 11/8 Draw 23/10 Oldham Athletic to win 2/1 Joe Garner to score first 5/1 PNE to win 1-0 13/2 Click here to have a bet on the game

Last 7 Encounters Preston V Oldham :

25 Nov 2014A2 - 2

23 Aug 2014H1 - 0

08 Mar 2014A1 - 3

08 Oct 2013H0 - 2

09 Sep 2013H2 - 1

09 Apr 2013H2 - 0

06 Oct 2012A3 - 1

All scores V Oldham since 2012 :

• Wins:

• 4

• Losses:

• 2

• Draws:

Read more at http://www.pnefc.net/fixtures-results/match-preview/index.aspx#fIfKdECbKhVoYB7S.99