Trip to Oldham vital as League One heavyweights clash

Leicester City travel to Oldham on Saturday seeking to extend a recent winning streak which has seen them come out victorious in their last four games. Only a home defeat to Millwall has troubled the ‘lost’ column in the League One table for the Foxes thus far but Saturday’s trip to Boundary Park should provide their sternest test of the season.

The local press in both Lancashire and Leicester have been quick to underline the importance of Saturday’s meeting, with just one point separating the two sides, and City’s chairman Milan Mandaric has described the encounter as ‘a very tough game’.

Mandaric’s words are certainly not without substance. Despite stuttering slightly in the absence of Sean Gregan, Oldham returned to winning ways last Saturday with a thumping 4-0 home win over bottom club Hereford. The Latics have been further boosted by the likely recovery of veteran keeper Mark Crossley and the signing of ex-Southampton striker Brett Ormerod on a month’s loan from Preston. Indeed, Ormerod’s arrival has added increased depth to an already enviable front line, including former West Brom favourite Lee Hughes and ex-Fox Chris O’Grady. Coupled with home form that would be the envy of most sides (played five, won four, scored fifteen), there would appear to be much for Nigel Pearson’s men to fear.
But the word ‘fear’ doesn’t appear to be present in Pearson’s vocabulary. Particularly away from the Walkers Stadium, Leicester have played with an apparent freedom, far removed from the often timid and contained displays that were evident under the brief reigns of Ian Holloway and Gary Megson. Four consecutive away league victories mean that Leicester have picked up more points on the road this season than any other English league club, and the inspired recent form of winger Lloyd Dyer and strikers Steve Howard and Matty Fryatt, combined with a resolute defence which has conceded just five league goals this season, will give the Foxes cause to believe they can win on Saturday.
Leicester will be keen to make sure that they come back from the international break refreshed rather rusty, as the Millwall defeat came on the back of a two-week lay-off for internationals and Oldham have picked up momentum since Leicester last played. But with Oldham free-scoring at home and Leicester free-scoring away, this weekend’s fixture has the potential to be a cracker. A high-scoring draw would seem the likely outcome, but don’t bet against that man Ormerod grabbing a late winner for the Latics.