Oldham Athletic host Southend United at the weekend, Latics will be looking to extend their three match unbeaten run and climb out of the relegation zone.
Oldham enter the game positioned 21st in League One but are level on points with Fleetwood, placed one position above the drop zone. In Oldham’s last game they picked up a much need three points as they defeated fellow relegation strugglers MK Dons courtesy of a Anthony Gerrard’s header.
Southend occupy 13th place in League One as they head to Boundary Park. Chris Powell has picked up 13 points from a possible 15 available since his return to Roots Hall, beating sides like Wigan, Peterborough and Scunthorpe. The Shrimpers hosted Portsmouth last weekend as they manage to pick up another three points, impressively beating Pompey 3-1.
Athletic skipper Anthony Gerrard feels the team have turned a significant corner in their latest bid to escape the drop from Sky Bet League One.
Athletic had dropped back into the bottom four at the end of January after nine league matches without a win, but seven points from the last three games have seen a vital upturn in fortunes.
Gerrard this week told Oldham Chronicle that “It does feel like that.”
“Obviously it would have been nice to have had nine points from nine if we’d held on at Blackburn, but it has been a fantastic return from these three games.”
“Our game plan worked to perfection there, and that could be a crucial point come the end of the season.”
“It’s fantastic we’ve got a couple of days off, but it’s all about preparation for the Southend game now.”
Southend’s new boss Chris Powell has revived The Shrimpers season after becoming the first ever Southend United manager to win his first three games in charge. Powell has picked up four wins and one draw since his return.
Seven defeats in eight matches left The Shrimpers just two points above the relegation zone in League One before the appointment of Powell, who has guided them eight points adrift of the relegation zone.
