No way Jose for Oldham as Baxter is banned

Posted Thursday, March 14, 2019 by PA

Oldham manager Paul Scholes will be without suspended midfielder Jose Baxter for the League Two clash with Tranmere at Boundary Park.

The 27-year-old, who spent a spell on loan at Rovers seven years ago, was sent off just before the break in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Lincoln so misses out against his old club.

The midweek clash came too soon for Gabon international striker Johan Branger, who sustained a knock in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Cambridge, and he faces a fitness test ahead of the match.

Dan Gardner (knee) and Ousmane Fane (leg) remain long-term absentees as Oldham aim to end a six-match winless streak.

Play-off hopefuls Tranmere moved up to fifth as they recorded their fifth straight league win with a 4-1 midweek victory over Grimsby.

League Two’s leading scorer James Norwood – with 25 goals so far this season – will continue to lead the attack for Micky Mellon’s side as he looks to find the net for his fourth consecutive match.

Connor Jennings netted a first-half brace last time out to take his tally to 11 in all competitions this term and he will start again as Rovers look to strengthen their hold on a top-seven spot.

Defender Zoumana Bakayogo missed Tuesday night’s match after limping out of the previous Friday’s 1-0 win over Crewe and could be absent again, while veteran striker Ishmael Miller (hamstring) remains sidelined.