Oldham v Burton Albion

Oldham v Burton Albion

TEAM NEWS: Burton Albion boss Paul Peschisolido was without his two leading scorers – Justin Richards (back) and Billy Kee (groin) – for the trip to Boundary Park in the first round of the FA Cup.

As a result, the Brewers boss switched to a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Calvin Zola playing as the lone striker.

At the back, Andy Corbett remained at right-back with Kevin Amankwaah still out, while Nathan Stanton, who played for the first time since the opening week of the season in the previous week’s victory over Macclesfield Town, kept out Tony James, who was back on the bench after suspension.

Left-back Aaron Webster, the only survivor from 2002 when the two sides met at the same stage of the competition, missed out through injury, with Danny Blanchett coming into the side.

Skipper John McGrath played just in front of the back four, with Jimmy Phillips recalled on the left wing with Jacques Maghoma moving into the centre.

Included on a seven-man bench were Argentinian winger Andres Gurrieri for the first time having received his international clearance, and 17-year-old second year scholar Evan Garnett, who is a striker.

Oldham included on-loan Manchester City winger Luca Scapuzzi in their starting line-up, while Andrea Mancini – son of City boss Roberto and also on loan at Boundary Park – was on the bench.

LATICS (4-4-1-1): Cisak; Lee, Diamond, Yves M’Voto, Mellor; Scapuzzi, Wesolowski, Furman (capt), Taylor; Simpson; Kuqi; subs: Black, Morais, Adeyemi, Smith, Tarkowski, Gerrard, Mancini.

BREWERS (4-1-4-1): Atkins; Corbett, Austin, Stanton, Blanchett; McGrath (capt); Taylor, Bolder, Maghoma, Phillips; Zola; subs: Poole (gk), James, Pearson, Gurrieri, Dyer, Palmer, Garnett.

HALF-TIME: The Brewers made a disastrous start, going a goal behind and having a player sent off inside the opening four minutes.

With three minutes on the clock, Latics striker Shefki Kuqi blocked Blanchett’s clearance.

The ball fell into the path of fellow striker Robbie Simpson, who muscled his way in front of centre-back Ryan Austin, who hauled him down in the penalty area as he was about to shoot.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and showed Austin a straight red card.

Kuqi stepped up and coolly sent Brewers keeper Ross Atkins the wrong way from the spot.

Peschisolido immediately sent on defender Tony James for winger Cleveland Taylor.

However, the hosts were awarded a second penalty after six minutes when Atkins hauled down Scapuzzi near the left by-line.

However, the keeper made amends, saving Kuqi’s tame spot-kick low to his right.

The nightmare start for the Brewers – and Atkins in particular – got worse on 13 minutes.

After a foul by midfielder Adam Bolder 30 yards out, Simpson stepped up and tried his look.

The Brewers keeper appeared to have it in his hands under his crossbar but then inexplicably dropped it over the line.

It was 3-0 on 35 minutes as the Latics broke down the left.

Simpson found Kuqi racing down the left channel and as he advanced on Atkins, he slipped a neat ball inside for midfielder and skipper Dean Furman to smash home into the empty net.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3, BURTON ALBION 0

FULL TIME: Peschisolido made his second change eight minutes into the second half, with Chris Palmer replacing Adam Bolder in central midfield.

Palmer made an immediate impact, racing down the left and crossing for Zola to hold the ball up and lay off for Maghoma, but his shot was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

Gurrieri was given his chance to impress on 62 minutes, replacing Phillips.

The Argentinian had a hand in the Brewers pulling one back on 71 minutes when he was tripped 30 yards out.

Palmer chipped the ball to the far post when Corbett headed into the path of Zola, who turned and fired a shot in between Cisak’s legs at the near post.

It was almost 4-1 11 minutes from time, but James headed off the line after Simpson had connected with a right-wing cross with his head at the far post.

Gurrieri had the ball in the net late on, but his effort was ruled out for offside.