March
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With 2 days to go before Saturdays crucial clash at Boundary Park ,Oldham and Cardiff have 20 first team players receiving treatment between them. Cardiff are without long term injured Jon Hallworth and Rob Earnshaw and have defenders Mike Ford (pelvic strain), Russell Perrett (leg), Jeff Eckhardt (hamstring), Andy Legg (knee) and Jorn Schwinkendorf (groin) along with midfielders Mark Bonner (ankle) and Jason Fowler (foot) plus strikers Kurt Nogan (foot) and Jason Bowen (groin) all receiving treatment. Oldham's crocked list is Richard Graham - Craig Dudley - Mark Allott - Jim Campbell - Neil Adams - Shaun Garnett - John Sheridan - Paul Rickers - Jordan Tait.

City's main worry is in defence. As things stand Scott Young is the only recognised centre back who is fit. Lee Phillips is available after playing for the reserves last Tuesday. Billy is waiting until Friday to see who is fit for the trip up North. We have cover in midfield from Matt Brazier Josh Low Willie Boland and Danny Hill and up front we have Paul Brayson to play alongside Nugent if Bowen and Nogan fail to recover. Also Chris Roberts and Dai Thomas are waiting in the wings for a chance in the first team again.

I will have a better idea of the travelling party on Friday afternoon.

Oldham put out a squad which included 12 players aged 21 or under against Chesterfield on Tuesday night. Chesterfield won at Boundary Park to keep their very slim survival chances alive. City must do the same.

Speaking after the game with Chesterfield Oldham's Chief Executive Alan Hardy said of the game "The management and Directors were deeply embarassed by last night's performance, our home form should be considerably better than that which the fans have had to contend with this season. It is extremely important that our home results improve next season if we are to challenge for promotion, it is also what the fans deserve".

City beware.