Against All Odds: Johnson to sink on debut against Pools

 

Oldham are odds-on for their huge relegation six pointer with Hartlepool in League One tonight but with four defeats in a row in all competitions, Paul Robinson feels they have to be taken on.

 

Despite reaching the last 16 of the FA Cup, including a victory over Liverpool, Oldham are battling the drop in League One, two points adrift of safety. They do have a couple of games in hand over their rivals but given their form you wouldn't be confident of them hauling themselves out of the relegation zone.

 

Lee Johnson was appointed as their new permanent manager on Monday making him the youngest manager in the football league. This is his first ever managerial role and I'm not sure it was the right way for Oldham to go as I would have thought they'd need an experienced man to get them out of trouble and then maybe appoint a younger guy in the summer.

 

He certainly has a huge job on his hands as the Latics have lost their last three in the league without scoring a goal - two of which were at home. In fact, Oldham have won just five of 18 at Boundary Park this term, drawing three and losing 10.

 

Hartlepool were written off by many earlier in the campaign as they won just one of their first 23 games. John Hughes took over the managerial reigns towards the end of 2012 and while it took him a little time to turn things around, he's now started to get a tune out of his players and they've lost only four of their last 15 - winning six of them.

 

Admittedly the Monkey Hangers have picked up just two points from a possible 12 in March, but three of those games were against teams in the top eight. Prior to defeats at Doncaster and Coventry, Jeff Stelling's favourite club hadn't lost in five on the road, including a victory at Sheffield United.

 

One place and four points separate these two sides but you feel that it's a must win for Hartlepool given that they have played two extra games. While three points would be a huge boost to Oldham, a draw wouldn't be the end of the world. Their current form just doesn't warrant their odds of 1.96, no matter the opposition, and that's why I have to make Oldham my lay of the day.

 

Recommended Bet

Lay Oldham v Hartlepool @ 1.96

 

Bet HERE

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