Oldham’s injury-hit squad returns to League One action at Chesterfield this weekend, with the form books suggesting Latics could snatch an away win despite having won just twice this season – the fewest in the division.
Dean Saunders’ Spireites have struggled at the Proact Stadium this season and, while they sit eight places above Oldham in 11th, the visitors are unbeaten on the road this campaign.
David Dunn’s side have won one and drawn seven away from home, while Chesterfield’s inconsistent league form is mirrored in the four defeats they have suffered on their own turf.
“Certainly away from home this season we’re unbeaten so it is important that we go and keep our run going,” said Dunn.
“I went down to FC United to watch [Chesterfield] and we have watched a couple of games, so we have got our game plan that we feel can work and we will go with that.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us, so our back four will have to be on guard. I think Lee Novak and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake are a very good competitive front two for them.
“But we can give them problems as well.”
Dunn will welcome back captain Liam Kelly and loan star Jay Fulton back to the fold on Saturday, but still has a handful of players on the side-lines as injuries that contributed to last season’s demise threaten to do the same again.
And even when heading into five games in 14 days, Dunn was reluctant to make excuses for his side’s dangerous league position.
“We were getting to the point where we could do quite a bit of 11 versus 11 in training, but over the last few weeks we have gone back down to playing five a side,” joked the 35-year-old.
“I’m not going to sit here and make excuses – we are what we are and we have got to make the best of what we have. We have some very good players out there.
“We have got to stick to our principles and carry on doing what we think is the right way to go.”
