Oldham Athletic vs Southend United Prediction and Betting Tip - Odds, H2H and Preview Predictions

Oldham Athletic vs Southend United Preview

The National League play-off final is on the horizon, and Sunday sees two sides clash for just one spot in the EFL next season.

Wembley plays host to Oldham Athletic against Southend United - fifth and seventh in the league, and the two best sides behind already promoted Barnet, who went up with a remarkable points tally of 102 points.

Oldham and Southend have taken different paths to reach the final - one took a dramatic, winding track, while the other coasted along an easy paved highway to get there, but none of that matters now. It is a single leg shootout, with huge rewards for the side who survives.

As the critical conclusions of the National League season approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Where to Watch

This game will be broadcasted on DAZN, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 on Sunday.

Key Statistics

• Oldham coasted through the play-off rounds, scoring seven unanswered goals against Halifax and York City, who finished 23 points ahead of them in the league table.
• However, they haven’t beaten Southend in their last four meetings, with their last win coming in April 2023.
• Southend scraped the last play-off spot by just one point ahead of Gateshead, proving that you don’t need to finish second or third to reach the final.
• They have had a rollercoaster ride to the final, scoring six and conceding five across the quarter and semi final.

Oldham Athletic Preview

Oldham Athletic Predicted Lineup (3-5-2): Matthew Hudson (GK); Emmanuel Monthe, Charlie Raglan, Reagan Ogle; Mark Kitching, Tom Pett, Corry Evans, Vimal Yoganathan, Joe Pritchard; Mike Fondop-Tallum, Joe Garner.

Where was this play-off form in the league season? As soon as the play-offs began, Oldham seemed to take their game to another gear, seemingly recognising that other opponents may be a little jaded after the long season.

What is amazing is that Oldham don’t seem to be affected. They dominated in a 4-0 win over Halifax Town, in which three goals in the first 12 minutes propelled them to victory, before an astonishing performance of York City, who were play-off favourites, saw them claim one half of the showpiece game.

Now though, they arguably face their hardest challenge. It is a side in peak form against a side of miracle workers, and it is an incredibly difficult result to call. Oldham have form on their side, but Southend never say die - this game could go either way, and will be quite the spectacle whichever way it does go.

Southend United Preview

Southend United Predicted Lineup (4-1-3-2): Nick Hayes (GK); Nathan Ralph, Ben Goodliffe, Harry Taylor, Gus Scott-Morriss; Noor Husin; Leon Chambers-Parillon, Oliver Coker, Keenan Appiah-Forson; Tom Hopper, Charley Kendall.

Southend were just four minutes from being eliminated by Forest Green in the semi-finals, and yet it was almost expected that they would somehow hit back with a late goal, which was duly provided by Jack Bridge in the 116th minute.

It has been a season punctuated by stunning moments for the East London club - clinching a play-off spot on the final day, goalkeeper Nick Hayes’ 90+9 equaliser against Sutton back in December, and now, a last gasp equaliser to take the semi-final to a penalty shootout, which Southend emerged from unscathed.

They now need just one more miracle - but it is the biggest task of all. Facing an extremely in-form Oldham, they know that things will be made exceptionally difficult at Wembley, and keeping a clean sheet is almost out of the question. However, if they can once more draw on their character and grit, this game could turn into an epic.

Oldham Athletic vs Southend United Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 29/03/2025: Southend 1-0 Oldham.
• 07/09/2024: Oldham 1-1 Southend.
• 02/03/2024: Oldham 1-1 Southend.
• 05/08/2023: Southend 4-0 Oldham.
• 18/04/2023: Oldham 2-0 Southend.

Oldham Athletic vs Southend United Betting Tip

While Southend’s run to the final has been nothing short of cinema, we think the final will be just a step too far for them.

That is why our experts have decided that the best tip for this fixture is to back Oldham to win. Odds of 2.30 on Highbet mean that a £10 bet would return £23 should the bet come off.

Oldham Athletic vs Southend United Prediction

Oldham Athletic 3-1 Southend United

Though Oldham’s run of play-off clean sheets will end here, their scoring spree will go on, and they will put three past Southend on their way back into the Football League.