History of Oldham Athletic A.F.C. - 2006–07: Promotion Bid

2006–07: Promotion Bid

The first two games of the 2006–07 season started with two unfortunate 1–0 defeats, away at Tranmere Rovers and at home to Port Vale. Things would improve though. Good football inspired by the manager, John Sheridan, and several new recruits including Simon Charlton, Neil Wood and Gary McDonald showed the talent Oldham needed to go further. The third game of the season saw John Sheridan's first win in management, a 68th minute goal from on-loan stiker Maheta Molango. Also in attendance was on-loan goal keeper Chris Howarth who saved a Lee Trundle penalty not long after.

After a slow start to the season the team started to achieve more consistency and togetherness. This was epitomised no more so than the home match against Leyton Orient where the Latics fought back from 2–0 and 3–2 down to salvage a draw with a last minute Andy Liddell penalty. By early December, Oldham were sitting comfortably in 4th position in the play-off zone with 35 points in the league, with just a single point separating 4th and 2nd place.

The Manager of the Month award was announced early in December, and John Sheridan won the award for November with his record for November showing one defeat (at home to Chesterfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy) and four wins. This winning run continued into December, until the jinx hit. The match after the manager of the month award was drawn, Oldham lost 2–1, again to Chesterfield at Saltergate, ending Oldham's six game winning run. A draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion followed by an emphatic 3–0 win against Northampton Town in front of 10,207 fans kicked off the festive season.

By New Year's Day John Sheridan was one of only three managers to get a full 12 points over the festive period, Boxing day saw a tough but deserved 3–2 win at Rotherham United before a 500-mile (800 km) round trip to a rainlashed Gillingham saw the Latics win 3–0. Then, on 1/1/2007 they completed the 12 points with a stunning 5–0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest. This left Oldham in 2nd position in league one. Just one point off the top.

Over 3,000 fans travelled to Wolverhampton Wanderers to see Oldham play a tough FA Cup game against Championship opposition. Latics fans were in dismay before the game with striker Chris Porter not appearing. Rumours that he had been sold were soon quenched when it appeared that there was a bereavement in the family. The game ended 2–2 with a chopped and changed Latics side deserving the replay at Boundary Park. Sadly for Oldham, the replay was won 2–0 by Wolves.

The Latics made their first acquisition of the 2007 January transfer window on the 9th by signing former Preston North End and Leeds United defender/midfielder Sean Gregan on a two and a half year contract following a successful loan spell.

Two leagues games against fellow promotion hopefuls followed with Latics scraping a dramatic last gasp draw away to Scunthorpe United, after Scunthorpe were reduced to nine men. Bristol City then thrashed Latics 3–0 in their own back yard. But Latics bounced back with a deserved 3–2 win over Northampton sending them second in the league.

Ronnie Moore returned to a hostile Boundary Park to see his Tranmere team beaten 1–0 with a 92nd minute Chris Porter goal, although Richie Wellens was sent off in the 95th minute and missed the next three games. This result sent Oldham to the top of the table. After beating Swansea City 1–0 away from home Oldham went 5 games without a win, a bad spell which left their automatic promotion push in tatters as Bristol City, Scunthorpe United, Nottingham Forest and Yeovil Town all pushed ahead of Oldham. With fighting spirit Oldham fought hard to go unbeaten all through March and to the beginning of April which helped them stay in contention for a playoff spot. After a draw against two local rivals, Huddersfield Town at home and away to Bradford City, Oldham stuttered over the line, finishing in sixth place following a nervy final day win over relegated Chesterfield.

For the second time in five seasons Oldham Athletic reached the playoffs and failed. Two disallowed goals marred the second leg against Blackpool, it was later discovered that they should have been allowed thanks to video replays. The opinion of many is that John Sheridan did well to get to the playoffs with the team he had available, whilst others argue that after a string of impressive performances until February means that sixth place was a disappointing finish.