Looking to end their respective absences from the Football League, Oldham Athletic and Southend United clash in the National League playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Latics eased past the attentions of York City to make the showpiece match in the capital, whilst the Shrimpers defeated Forest Green Rovers by the narrowest of margins.
Match preview
![Oldham Athletic Manager Micky Mellon is managing during the Pre-season Friendly match between Oldham Athletic and Stockport County at Boundary Park in Oldham, England, on July 13, 2024. [on August 18, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/33/micky-mellon.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Oldham Athletic Manager Micky Mellon is managing during the Pre-season Friendly match between Oldham Athletic and Stockport County at Boundary Park in Oldham, England, on July 13, 2024. [on August 18, 2024]")
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An original member of the Premier League back in the 1992-93 campaign, Oldham Athletic have endured a fall from grace since the turn of the 21st century, with their most recent setback arriving in the spring of 2022, when they finished 23rd in League Two, dropping into non-league football.
Back-to-back mid-table finishes were on the cards for the Latics in the fifth tier of English football before it was third time lucky in terms of reaching the post-season picture, with Oldham placing fifth in the National League rankings this time around, booking a spot in the playoffs.
Micky Mellon's troops have undoubtedly been the in-form side of the bunch since the conclusion of the regular season, with the former top-flight runners-up beating Halifax Town 4-0 in their quarter-final before sealing a place at Wembley by smashing York City 3-0 on May 20.
Finding the net in both of those matches, Joe Garner will be hoping to provide another moment of attacking brilliance for the Latics at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, with the 37-year-old vastly experienced as an operator in the Football League courtesy of spells at Preston North End, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town.
On the other end of the scale, Oldham's Mike Fondop-Talum has only made 19 Football League appearances during this career to date and is desperate to prove himself at the level once again, with the striker bagging a sensational 20 goals across all competitions this season.
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Southend may not have occupied a spot in the Premier League in the past, but they certainly have plenty of Football League pedigree, having gone about their business alongside the likes of Sunderland, Coventry City and Ipswich as recently as 2020, before dropping into the National League in 2021.
The Shrimpers missed out on a top-seven finish in the fifth tier by the smallest of margins in 2023 and 2024 but managed to squeeze into the playoffs this season, placing seventh with 68 points from 46 league matches, just a single point ahead of Gateshead in eighth spot.
A good sign for neutrals at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, Southend have played their part in some thrilling playoff matches over the past few weeks, winning at seven-goal thriller at the base of Rochdale on May 15 before beating favourites Forest Green on penalties in the semi-finals.
Kevin Maher's troops have struggled massively away from Roots Hall this season despite positive results on the road in the playoffs, with the Shrimpers winning just seven of 23 outings in the regular term - the same number as Maidenhead United, who will be plying their trade in National League South next year.
Scoring double the number of goals than any of his teammates during the regular season, 15-strike Gus Scott-Morriss has hit an unwelcome dry patch ahead of this weekend's winner-takes-all clash, failing to find the net in each of his last 10 appearances dating back to the end of March.
Team News
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Both finding the net versus York last time out, Barnsley loanee Vimal Yoganathan and wing-back Joe Pritchard should retain their spots in the Oldham XI.
As well as the aforementioned Garner, Corry Evans brings top-level experience to this National League contest, with the midfielder playing for Sunderland as recently as the 2023-24 term.
After keeping a remarkable clean sheet at LNER Community Stadium during their semi-final, Oldham should stick with a centre-back trio of Emmanuel Monthe, Charlie Raglan and Reagan Ogle.
Subbed off before the 60-minute mark at Forest Green, Oliver Coker's spot in the Southend engine room is under threat ahead of Sunday's showpiece match.
Jack Bridge scored off the bench for the Shrimpers to force a penalty shootout, and the 29-year-old could be rewarded with a starting berth at the national stadium.
Oldham Athletic possible starting lineup:
Hudson; Ogle, Raglan, Monthe; Pritchard, Yoganathan, Evans, Pett, Kitching; Garner, Fondop-Talum
Southend United possible starting lineup:
Hayes; Scott-Morriss, Taylor, Goodliffe, Ralph; Husin, Appiah-Forson, Bridge, Chambers-Parillon; Bonne, Hopper
We say: Oldham Athletic 2-1 Southend United
In exceptional form following the batterings of Halifax and York en-route to Wembley, Oldham should be confident of ending their three-year absence from the Football League.
Southend's recent struggles have been well-documented, and there could be another setback written into the Shrimpers' history books at Wembley this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
