Latics into 10-1 for promotion

MANAGERS PAST AND PRESENT: Lee Johnson (right) will be looking to outwit his Latics predecessor Paul Dickov when his team hosts Doncaster in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

SPORTS BETTING: 

THE feelgood factor has certainly returned to Oldham Athletic.

Football’s landscape has changed dramatically since the glory days of Joe Royle and ambitions have to be tempered by reality. But optimism abounds at SportsDirect.com Park and smiling faces have replaced glum expressions, thanks to the efforts of manager Lee Johnson and his team.

The last few seasons have seen a succession of Athletic teams flirt with relegation. So it is with much pleasure that this column looks ahead with anticipation.

Promotion remains a long way off, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility, based on the team’s efforts following a slow start to the season.

Early on, bookmakers gave Athletic little chance of promotion; now they are a best-priced at 10-1 seventh favourites behind Bristol City (8-15), Preston (evens), MK Dons (11-8), Swindon (6-4), Sheffield United (9-4) and Peterborough (7-1) – the majority of which have vastly-superior spending power.

Athletic climbed back into the promotion play-off places with the ruthless dispatch of derby rivals Rochdale on Saturday and, having played all of the top nine clubs away from home bar MK Dons, prospects are bright.

More money to aid a promotion push would be welcomed by Johnson and club chairman Simon Corney, so an FA Cup run would be just the ticket.

Victory over Doncaster in the second round at home on Saturday could see Athletic pitched against a Premier Division club in round three, so the incentive is certainly there.

The odds layers think Athletic will prevail, making them a best-priced 17-20 to win in 90 minutes and 8-15 to qualify.

Doncaster, managed by former Athletic boss Paul Dickov are 19-5 to win Saturday’s tie, with the draw at 13-5.

Goal machine Jonathan Forte is the 4-1 favourite to score first, with Jabo Ibehre 5-1 and Danny Philliskirk 11-2.



MANCHESTER City clawed back a couple of points on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea at the weekend, but Jose Mourinho’s men remain hot favourites at 2-7 to win the title.

City are 9-2, with Manchester neighbours United at 33-1 and Arsenal 66s.