Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Spotland Stadium will host Saturday’s football game between Rochdale and Oldham Athletic, the two teams who sit in the opposite halves of the table ahead of Matchday 9. The Dale have been in a fine form of late, with the team winning three of the previous five league fixtures, while drawing two. Since a win over Oldham will see Rochdale climb to the playoffs berth, we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at the Latics.
A man to watch in the home team will be Danny Cashman, who has found his goal-scoring touch of late. The Dale were eliminated by Burnley in the EFL Cup last 32 in midweek, meaning that they will be fully focused on the League Two in the remainder of the season. Oldham, on the other hand, are stuck at the bottom of the table, with the team collecting only four points in total from possible 24. The rock bottom side have been struggling at the back in recent weeks, and they are unlikely to spoil Rochdale’s party at Spotland Stadium.
Highlighted Player (Ryan McLaughlin):
Ryan McLaughlin is a Northern Ireland international who plays for Rochdale in the League One as a right-back. McLaughlin started his youth career at Glenavon back in 2009 and two years later he was spotted by Liverpool scouts, who persuaded him to join the Reds youth academy.
However, instead of playing for Liverpool at senior level, the Northern Ireland defender spent two seasons on loan at Barnsley and Aberdeen before moving to Oldham Athletic. After scoring three goals in 52 league appearances for the club, Ryan McLaughlin joined Rochdale in 2019 for an undisclosed fee.
McLaughlin made his League One debut with the Dale on January 26, 2019 in a 2-1 loss at Barnsley. Speaking of his international career, the pacey right-back made his Northern Ireland debut on May 31, 2014 in a friendly against Uruguay. It has to be noted that the Rochdale defender can be used as both left-back and right midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (Oldham):
Based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, Oldham Athletic are a professional football club that compete in League Two. The Latics play their home matches at Boundary Park, the venue with the capacity of 13,512 spectators. Oldham Athletic are well known for their blue and white home kit, with the owl being the symbol of the club.
The Latics did remarkably well to make it to the League Cup final in 1990, but Nottingham Forest proved to be a big catch for Joe Royle’s troops in the title game. Oldham made it to the FA Cup semis on three occasions (1912/13, 1989/90, 1993/94), and in 1979 they advanced to the Anglo-Scottish Cup final. The Latics registered their biggest league triumph on December 26, 1962, with the team crushing Southport 11-0 in Division 4.
Speaking of the club’s heaviest defeat, Oldham Athletic were hammered by Tranmere Rovers 14-3 at Prenton Park on December 26, 1935. Bolton, Stockport, and Blackburn are the club’s traditional rivals, but nowadays, Huddersfield Town are seen as the Latics’ fiercest rivals.