Crewe vs Oldham: Big Bet Preview

Credit: Vivid Brands

Crewe Alexandra vs Oldham Athletic
(Sun 22 Mar, 3:00pm UK - Sky Sports+)

We’re now officially deep into the business end of the season, and while the precious Premier League and Championship teams have decided to take a break from the action for the international window, things are still picking up pace in the lower tiers. Oldham, promoted from the National League last year and in red-hot form, are making the short trip to the other side of Manchester to face a Crewe side that are no strangers to the sharp end of League Two, with both within touching distance of the play-offs. The top six have started to pull away, so it’s an all-out brawl between six teams for that final shot at promotion. Will either of these two make it in there come the final day? Three points this weekend would be a huge step towards achieving their dreams while also taking down a rival. It’s a game with huge implications in the League Two play-off race in this week’s Tipple Big Bet!

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If you hear anyone bemoaning the lack of club football over the international break, you have our permission to chew their ear off about the intricacies of the battle for the play-offs in both League One and League Two and there are key fixtures across the divisions that could see a huge shake-up at the top end of the table. This week we’re turning our attention to the fourth tier and a massive matchup in the race for that final play-off position. Here’s how things stand before kick off:

7th: Grimsby, Played 38, 62 Points.

8th: Chesterfield, Played 39, 62 Points.

9th: Oldham, Played 38, 61 Points.

10th: Crewe, Played 39, 60 Points.

11th: Walsall, Played 39, 60 Points.

12th: Barnet, Played 39, 57 Points.

With all of these teams vying for that precious 7th placed finish, games between two of them have now become must-win. If either of these sides are able to claim victory this weekend, and results go their way, they could find themselves in the play-offs going into next week.

Nobody can afford to drop points as it goes down to the wire in League Two! Who has the bottle to get themselves over the line in this week’s Tipple Big Bet?

Form

Crewe have been consistently inconsistent throughout this whole League Two campaign. Over their last 5 games they’ve picked up two wins, two losses and a draw, including a devastating 3-0 home defeat to fellow chasers Walsall. Last time out saw them claim a big 4-0 victory away at struggling Shrewsbury, so they will go into this game buoyed with confidence, but they’ve only beat one side chasing promotion since October, a 2-1 win at Swindon in February. With 6 of their remaining 7 matches coming against sides above them in the table, if they do manage to sneak into the play-offs you’ll have to say they’ve earned it

Oldham are electric, and are probably the favourites to make a late charge into the play-offs. It’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish it that counts. They’ve won 8 from their last 9, the only blemish on that record being a 0-0 draw away against league-leading Bromley, who haven’t lost at home in over a year. They’ve won all of their last 5 games and have only conceded once across their last 9 games. With wins in recent weeks against Grimsby, Chesterfield, and Notts County, Oldham are a force to be reckoned with that don’t mind going toe-to-toe with the big boys.

Head-to-head

The reverse fixture was a pulsating 0-0 draw at Boundary Park, long before Oldham morphed into the unplayable superpower we know them as today. Crewe and Oldham have spent years separated by divisions, so haven’t met on many occasions in recent memory. Their last matchup before this season came all the way back in 2020.

In their last 10 meetings, we’ve seen 4 Crewe wins, 4 Oldham wins and 2 draws, so there’s very little to separate the two! Across this run, neither team have scored more than 2 goals in a game, and you have to look all the way back to a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy fixture in 2011 to find the last time either hit 3, Oldham running out 3-1 winners on the day.

Nothing to split these two in their recent history! Let’s just hope this time around is more entertaining than their recent fixtures would suggest. 

Key Battle

Mickey Demetriou vs Mike Fondop-Talum

At the ripe old age of 36, you could be forgiven for thinking this year might finally be the season Mickey Demetriou starts to slow down and be weaned away from the Crewe starting lineup. You would, of course, be mistaken. While not quite hitting the heights of his 10-goal season of two years ago, the big centre half has still been a force at the back for the Railwaymen this campaign. His distribution and defensive awareness are second to none at this level, and if he is backed up by strong performances around him then Crewe will be so difficult to break down. Able to create chances from the back and break down opposition attacks with ease, Demetriou is a dream at centre half for any side at this level.

Oldham’s success has largely been built on defensive solidity, having kept the most clean sheets in the division, but you can’t win a game without scoring a goal or two. Their top scorer is Mike Fondop-Talum with 7 to his name so far, 6 of them coming in his last 9 games including a brace in midweek. His sudden upturn in form has coincided with his side’s decision to start winning games, and he could be the man that drags Oldham over the line into the play-offs. After an awful goalless run, their star striker from last season is back firing in the goals. Could he be the difference in such a tight match at the top?

Preview

The international break may be upon us but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have a bit of fun down in the lower tiers. Will Oldham’s imperious form continue as they steamroll their way to promotion? Or will the Railwaymen stop them in their tracks in Cheshire? They can’t both sneak into the top 7, this game could decide it all.  

Tipple Difficulty Rating: 9/10