Oldham Athletic vs Rochdale Prediction

Saturday’s National League action sees two promotion hopefuls go head to head, as they look to sabotage each other's campaigns as well as provide a massive boost to their own.

Home side Oldham have suffered from inconsistency recently, and have picked up just six points from the last 15 available. Rochdale will be licking their lips at this, as their own form has been on the up in recent weeks, with Jim McNulty’s side winning their last four on the bounce.

With Oldham fourth and Rochdale seventh, and with just seven points separating the pair, this is going to be a bumper tie with far reaching consequences for the table regardless of which way the result goes.

As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Key Statistics

• While they have kept two clean sheets in their last three games, Oldham have only netted five times in their last five, and have failed to score in two.
• However, it is worth noting that the Latic’s haven’t lost to Rochdale in their last five meetings (W3, D2).
• Rochdale are undefeated in their last five matches, a run which has seen them propel themselves from 10th to seventh.
• They have netted 11 times in that period, and are by far the in form team coming into this fixture.

Oldham Athletic Preview

Oldham Athletic Predicted Lineup (4-4-2): Tom Donaghy (GK); Jake Leake, Charlie Raglan, Reagan Ogle, Jake Caprice; Tom Pett, Mark Kitching, Jordan Rossiter, Tom Conlon; Mike Fondop-Talum, Billy Waters.

After a lightning fast start to the season, Oldham have slowed a little over the last month or so. Though they are still safely inside the promotion spots, they will know that a win here would provide a little extra comfort, and so will be revving themselves up for a big performance.

With the menace of top goalscorer Mike Fondop-Talum up top, who has 15 National League goals to his name this season, they always provide a threat even when playing below their best, and with home advantage and a winning head to head record, will certainly pose a stiff test for Rochdale.

However, their lack of goals in recent games has come from profligate finishing, something they cannot afford in a game as significant as this. Win and they have all but sealed their place in the play-offs. Lose, and suddenly they will be looking warily at who is behind them.

Rochdale Preview

Rochdale Predicted Lineup (3-4-3): Sam Waller (GK); Liam Hogan, Jack Kingdon, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling; Sam Beckwith, Aidan Barlow, Harvey Gilmour, Ryan East; Tarryn Allarakhia, Jay Bird, Connor McBride.

It is always nice to see persistence pay off. While they have been in and around the play-off spots for much of the season, Rochdale have been plagued by inconsistency, punctuated by multiple periods of a number of consecutive draws. The preferred 4-3-3 formation promised much, but produced limited results.

Now though, it seems the tide is turning. They have won four games in a row for the first time since late August, and they are now well and truly in the promotion hunt. Notably, they have four games in hand on Oldham, so even if they taste defeat on Saturday, their season is far from over.

And if they manage to pick up a valuable away win at the weekend, they would suddenly become one of the favourites to claim a play-off spot, as they would still have the four game cushion over one of their rivals. They just need to keep winning, and importantly, stick with the 4-3-3.

Oldham Athletic vs Rochdale Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 04/02/2025: Rochdale 0-1 Oldham.
• 06/04/2024: Oldham 1-1 Rochdale.
• 21/10/2023: Rochdale 3-4 Oldham.
• 29/01/2022: Oldham 0-0 Rochdale.
• 25/09/2021: Rochdale 0-1 Oldham.

Oldham Athletic vs Rochdale Betting Tip

With Rochdale in such superior form when compared with Oldham, it is easy to predict an away win here. However, the home side will be aware of their positive recent record against visitors, and after winning for the first time in four games last weekend, they will be up for this one. Neither side will want to lose this, so we are backing a draw.

Oldham Athletic vs Rochdale Final Prediction

Oldham Athletic 2-2 Rochdale

Rochdale will take risks here, such will be their desperation for a fifth win in a row. But Oldham have more than enough talent to hit back, which is lucky, because they may have to do so more than once.