Preview: Oldham Athletic vs. Boreham Wood - prediction, team news, lineups

Micky Mellon's side are currently sixth in the table, picking up 42 points from their 27 matches this season, while Boreham are 15th, collecting 32 points from their 27 games in 2023-24.

Match preview

Oldham were in FA Trophy action on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Hendon, but their focus this season is on the National League, where they have been in excellent form.

Indeed, Mellon's team have recorded three straight wins over Hartlepool United (twice) and Dorking Wanderers, with the run of form moving them into sixth position in the table on 42 points.

Oldham are some 23 points off the leaders Chesterfield, while they are just two clear ahead of Gateshead in eighth, so the hosts are far from comfortable when it comes to the playoff positions.

The Latics have struggled for consistency at home this season, picking up 17 points from their 13 matches, and they have only won two of their last nine games in front of their own supporters.

Oldham were last in league action on January 6, recording a 1-0 victory over Dorking, with Mike Fondop-Talum's effort late in the first period proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Boreham Wood, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with York City in the National League on January 7, which made it three games unbeaten at this level of football.

The Wood have won seven, drawn 11 and lost nine of their 27 matches this season to collect 32 points, which has left them in 15th position in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone.

Luke Garrard's side are nine points off the playoffs, meanwhile, so a strong run of form would be capable of moving them towards the top seven.

Boreham Wood finished sixth in the National League last season, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they were beaten by Notts County in the semi-finals after overcoming Barnet in the quarter-finals.

Garrard's team have won three, drawn five and lost five of their 13 away league games this season, conceding 27 times in the process, and they will be the underdogs heading into Tuesday's contest.

Oldham Athletic National League form:

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Boreham Wood National League form:

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Team News

James Norwood has been in excellent form for Oldham during the 2023-24 campaign, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions, and the 33-year-old will again lead the line.

Fondop-Talum has three goals this term, and the 30-year-old will also feature from the start.

There are not expected to be any major surprises in the Oldham side on Tuesday, with Nathan Sheron and Mark Kitching set to be among the starters in the home fixture.

As for Boreham, head coach Garrard could name an unchanged side from the 1-1 draw with York in Hertfordshire on January 7.

Lee Ndlovu has been in strong scoring form this season, netting seven times in all competitions, and the 28-year-old is set to be joined in the final third of the field by Tyrone Marsh.

Angelo Balanta has scored five times in all competitions this term, and the 33-year-old will also be in the starting side, with Boreham not reported any fresh injury problems from their last game.

Oldham Athletic possible starting lineup:

Hudson; Hogan, Raglan, McGahey, Kitching; Sheron, Hobson, Sutton, Lundstram; Norwood, Fondop-Talum

Boreham Wood possible starting lineup:

Ashmore; Bush, Ilesanmi, Staunton, Sass-Davies; Robinson, Sousa, Whelan, Balanta; Marsh, Ndlovu

We say: Oldham Athletic 2-1 Boreham Wood

Boreham have a lot of quality in the final third of the field, and we are expecting them to score on Tuesday, but Oldham have home advantage, and we are backing the Latics to collect all three points in this clash.

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