Oldham v Crewe preview
Last Updated: December 28, 2012 1:53pm
Jean-Yves Mvoto: Banned for Oldham
Team news ahead of the League One clash between Oldham and Crewe at Boundary Park.
Oldham boss Paul Dickov will be without the services of Jean-Yves Mvoto.
The central defender picked up his fifth booking of the season in the Boxing Day defeat to Doncaster and will serve a one-match ban.
Mvoto serves his second suspension of the season having already been sent off against Crawley.
Dickov tried to claim a case of mistaken identity, insisting James Wesolowski was the offender, but Latics have no right of appeal.
Fellow defenders Connor Brown and Carl Winchester will battle it out for a place at the back.
Robbie Simpson is also suspended and serves the second of a three-game ban following his red card at Yeovil last weekend.
Crewe boss Steve Davis has hinted at changes to his starting XI.
The Alex blew a half-time lead at Tranmere on Boxing Day to lose 2-1 and Davis has demanded improvement.
Mathias Pogba and Lauri Dalla Valle were both hauled off at Prenton Park and could be replaced from the start this time by Max Clayton and Byron Moore.
Kelvin Mellor is also in the reckoning after making the bench at Rovers, while Ajay Leitch-Smith may also be in contention.
"Kelvin isn't quite match fit but he's looking stronger each day," Davis told the Crewe Guardian.
"Ajay will take a little bit longer, mainly because he has been out for such a long time. We'll ease him in and if that means putting him on the bench and using him as an impact player, he can do that."
Ollie Turton (thigh) and goalkeeper Steve Phillips (shin/ankle) are still troubled by injury complaints.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
