Northampton Town vs Oldham Athletic. Sky Bet League One.
Sixfields StadiumAttendance6,511.
Friday 4 May 2018 11:44, UK
Northampton caretaker boss Dean Austin says his all-but relegated side will not give struggling Oldham an easy ride as the curtain comes down on the season.
Saturday evening marks the last round of League One fixtures, with the Cobblers needing to beat their opponents by a massive nine-goal deficit to remain in the English third tier.
Kevin van Veen is eyeing a place in the starting line-up after returning - following a dead leg - for the final 12 minutes off the bench in the 1-0 defeat at Walsall last time out. Fellow Dutch striker Kevin Luckassen (thigh) was still struggling last weekend and could miss out again.
Visitors Oldham sit one point above the drop zone and need to at least equal local rivals Rochdale's result at home to play-off hopefuls Charlton to retain their League One status. Boss Richie Wellens was buoyed by a goalless draw at Doncaster last time out with form on their side - they have lost just one of their last eight matches.
Latics will be boosted by the return of full-back Wilfried Moimbe following a three-match ban, while fellow defender Cameron Dummigan may yet be fit enough for a place among the substitutes. League One Player of the Month nominee Duckens Nazon came close to breaking the deadlock against Rovers and will be looking to lead from the front.
The Cobblers have lost five of their last six home league meetings with Oldham, winning the other 2-0 in April 2008 courtesy of second half goals from Giles Coke and Ryan Gilligan.
Oldham, unbeaten in five league meetings with Northampton (W4 D1), have won 11 of the last 14 such matches between these two sides (D1 L2), including a 5-1 rout in December earlier this season.
For the fifth time in six seasons, Northampton will finish the season at home, winning three of those matches, twice at home and once on the road (D1 L1).
Oldham have drawn four of their last five final season games (L1), failing to score in each of the last two.
Tope Obadeyi has scored two of his three league goals for Oldham against Northampton, doing so in just two appearances against them for the Latics.
This should have been a nail-biting survival clash in League One, but Northampton's goal difference means they have already been all-but relegated already.
They do have the chance to take Oldham down with them, who need to at least match Rochdale's result to stay up. It will still be a nervy affair and I can see it ending as a dour draw and a nervy wait for Richie Wellens and Co to see what happens at Spotland.
David Prutton predicts: 0-0 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
