Oldham Athletic v Leyton Orient 

Oldham Athletic are staring down the barrel of relegation to non-league as they prepare to face their former boss Richie Wellens’ in-form Leyton Orient side in League Two in Tuesday night. 

John Sheridan was brought in by the Latics in January to try and save them from going down and his arrival saw their form take an upturn. However, they have sunk back to their old ways and have lost their last six league games on the spin and haven’t won in their last eight matches, with their last victory coming on 19th February against Bradford City. The North West side were beaten 2-1 at home to promotion chasing Mansfield Town over the weekend and conceded a 95th minute Rhys Oates goal to suffer another big setback. Sheridan said the result was “really hard to take” and faces a tough ask in keeping his side in the division now as they currently sit 23rd in the league table, three points from safety with just eight games left to play now. In terms of team news, Oldham will welcome defender Sam Hart back from suspension which is a boost with inexperienced 18-year-old Benny Couto taking his place at left-back over the past two games. However, key midfielder Christopher Missolou is on international duty with DR Congo so is out of action still which isn’t good news. Callum Whelan has been playing his position in the heart of midfield but hasn’t been able to stop the club’s current rut, with Oldham losing their last four outings at Boundary Park now which will give Leyton Orient hope. 

The O’s have turned a corner under new boss Wellens and their decision to sack Kenny Jackett earlier this month has paid off. They were nervously looking over their shoulder towards the relegation zone but are now 15 points above the drop zone after their 2-0 home win over Barrow last time out, thanks to goals from Paul Smyth and Ruel Sotiriou. Wellens said after the match that his side have a lot of “potential” and they are a team to watch out for next season after a frustrating campaign. The London side haven’t lost for seven games and will be keeping one eye on the summer now as they look ahead of their manager’s first full season at the helm. Leyton Orient have been boosted by having a clean bill of health over recent weeks and have welcomed back midfielder Darren Pratley and defender George Ray from their respective injuries which gives them more competition and depth in their ranks. They are carefully managing Paul Smyth’s game time at the moment as he has had his injury woes since joining last year from QPR. The Northern Ireland international has the ‘potential to be the best player in the league’ according to his manager and is someone who Oldham could struggle to deal with if he plays. 

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Hartlepool United v Mansfield Town

Hartlepool United’s season is starting to peter out and they lost 2-0 away at Northampton Town over the weekend. 

The Pools have had an impressive first year back in the Football League after their promotion from the National League in the last campaign. It has been a rollercoaster of a season with a host of new signings arriving throughout and a new manager in Graeme Lee coming in half-way through. However, they don’t really have anything to play for now and will be tentatively keeping one eye on the summer. Speaking after their defeat on Saturday against the Cobblers, Lee said they need to show a “bit more fight” which suggests his team are not at their best right now. This has been reflected by their recent stuttering run of form with two wins in their last nine games in all competitions. They are also not doing very well at home over recent times and have won just once in their last four outings at the Suits Direct Stadium and that came against lowly Barrow. In terms of team news, attacker Jordan Cook remains a long-term absentee whilst Burton Albion loan man Bryn Morris made his return from injury at Sixfields in the last game. Newcastle United loanee Joe White has been out with an ankle injury and has been missed in the middle of the park, with Nicky Featherstone starting in his place whilst he has been gone. He could make his return against Mansfield Town but the Pools won’t want to rush him back in. 

Nigel Clough’s side boosted their promotion hopes with a last-gasp win away at Oldham Athletic in their last game, with striker Rhys Oates scoring a winner in stoppage time. They have won their last two games and are outside the play-offs by a single point, with three matches in hand on Newport County, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere Rovers above them. Clough said he was “pleased” with the result again and has some selection decisions to make for their trip to the North East. Midfielder Kieran Wallace came off at Boundary Park after picking up a knock and Clough said Stephen McLaughlin looked like he was “really struggling” due to the sheer number of games he has played this term. Nevertheless, Mansfield have the strength in depth to make changes to their side with midfield players like Ryan Stirk, Stephen Quinn and George Lapslie ready to step up to the plate if needed. The Nottinghamshire side received a boost against Oldham with Jamie Murphy and Lucas Akins making their return to the squad which is good news ahead of the promotion run-in as they are two very experienced players at this level. 

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Rochdale v Carlisle United 

Rochdale are in a dismal run of form and are at risk of being dragged into a relegation dogfight if they aren’t careful. 

The North West side are winless in their last seven league games and have slipped to 20th in the League Two table, nine points above the drop zone with eight matches left to play. They still need a couple more wins to make sure they stay up but aren’t showing any signs that they will get one anytime soon having lost their last three on the spin. Crawley Town beat them 1-0 over the weekend and their boss, Robbie Stockdale, said he was “very disappointed” with the result and things are getting worse for his side with key duo Tahvon Campbell and James Ball ruled out with injuries. They are both expected to be out for the rest of the season which is a real sucker punch for Dale. Campbell was brought in during the January transfer window to add more competition and depth in attack from Woking and his absence will leave a void up front with his replacement Luke Charman currently in a run of form of no goals in 11 games. Ball was another player signed a couple of months ago and has made a positive impression so far by scoring three goals from midfield. However, George Broadbent who stepped into his shoes in the last match has managed to score just once this term since his summer. Rochdale have bagged twice in their last seven which will give Carlisle United confidence they can go to Spotland and get a result if they keep it tight at the back. 

Paul Simpson has made a positive impact since making his emotional return to Brunton Park to replace Keith Millen. The Cumbrians were in a relegation battle when he joined last month but they are now comfortably above the bottom two, 15 points above with eight games left. They have won their last two games against Barrow and Bristol Rovers respectably and their manager has said they have been “incredible”. In terms of team news, there were fears that midfielder Corey Whelan was injured after he went off against Bristol Rovers in the last game but Simpson said he was just “shattered”. He has stepped up to the plate over recent weeks with Callum Guy out injured and has replaced his teammate well by helping the Cumbrians climb away from danger. The club have won six out of their last seven games which means they make the trip to out of form Rochdale with a spring in their step. 

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