Sheffield United remain 19th in the League One table following a stalemate draw at Stevenage last Saturday. Blades boss Nigel Clough commented that the performance was the best he had seen under his so far short tenure at Bramall lane but the Red and White Wizards returned home from Hertfordshire with just a single point having failed to score.
It wasn't without attempt, against a strong wind and bustling centre-halves the Blades faithful twice smashed the woodwork; Aidy White came close after only five minutes, his dinked shot on the edge of the area was knocked onto the post by Boro stopper Chris Day and in the 48th minute Jose Baxter saw his shot fire off the post. United had dominated the game throughout and Day kept the home side in the game, denying Neill Collins header after White's free-kick and Baxter failed to get his shot on target on 67 minutes. At the other end Sheffield born striker Jordan Burrow fired wide, has did Dean Parrett and James Dunne hit his 25 yard lob over the crossbar.
With the return of midfielder Stephen McGinn to the starting line-up last weekend Blades boss Nigel Clough has a fully strengthen squad at his disposal and is likely to field three former Latics to face there former club; Chris Porter, Jose Baxter and on-loan Leeds United winger Aidy White.
Chris Porter, 28 was signed by the Latics from rival club Bury in June 2005 - scoring on his debut in a 2-0 win over Yeovil Town, and would later bag a hat-trick at Brentford in a 3-3 draw. The following season he netted 22 times before, in May 2007 he was sold to Motherwell. During his time with Athletic he made 60 (+15) appearances and scored 31 goals.
Baxter joined Oldham permanently in July 2012 after making a few appearances for Everton. He scored on his debut in a 2-2 draw at home to Nott's County and went onto score 15 goals that season. In late August 2013, following the sale of Kevin McDonald (to Wolverhampton Wanderers) the Liverpudlian was sold to Sheffield United having made 43 (+6) appearances and scored 17 goals for the Latics.
White enjoyed two loan spells with Oldham Athletic, firstly from 19 November 2010 where he scored on his Latics debut in a 1-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge and returned to Elland Road on 3 January. However he made a second loan move to Boundary Park on 27th of that month and stayed with the Lancashire club for the remainder of the season. He left having made 19 (+5) appearances and scored four goals.
A two goal defeat at home Colchester United ended Oldham Athletics’ nine match unbeaten run last Saturday, leaving the Latics 18th in the table and only a point ahead of Sheffield United - leaving this Boxing Day clash an imperative fixture for both clubs involved.
The game was settled with an own goal and a strike from Jabo Ibehre. It took the U's just eight minutes to take the lead when Latics full-back Ellis Plummer slid the ball into his own net from four yards out after Craig Eastmond centred. Athletic had further opportunities to level with Matteo Lanzori firing wide but in the 32nd minute Plummer was caught napping and Dominic Vose set up Ibehre to tap home to double the visitors lead. Lanzori and Danny Philliskirk went close has the hosts applied pressure on keeper Sam Walker and on 72 minutes the stopper prevented Connor Brown from getting the home side back into the game - Jon Pritchard hit the woodwork but Colchester hung on for the victory.
Latics boss Lee Johnson will welcome the return of striker Jonson Clarke-Harris who missed the defeat to Colchester having served a one match ban but will be available for selection at Bramall Lane. He will however be without midfielder James Wesolowski who fractured a cheekbone in their FA Cup win over Mansfield Town to set up an annual tie at Liverpool in Round 3. Defender Edijs Joksts (back) is also sidelined through injury.
Latics boss Lee Johnson is likely to field duo Connor Brown and Danny Philliskirk against their former clubs. Brown was part of the Sheffield United Academy from 2006, signing professional terms in July 2011 but failed to break into the first team and was subsequently released in July 2012 - signing for Oldham that summer.
Philliskirk, son of former Blade Tony was signed after a successful loan spell from Chelsea in August 2011 (he had joined on loan in January 2011) - making his debut in a 3-1 defeat at Preston North End has the Blades were relegated. In February 2013 he was allowed to join Coventry City on a free transfer after making too few appearances and started just once (+7) and left without scoring.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Oldham Athletic 0