by Adam Stubbings

A Christmas Derby Day dampener may have taken the gloss off of a productive festive month of results, but there is a quick chance for Rovers to redeem themselves and end the year on a positive note. Eight teams lie below us after our defeat by Scunthorpe but we boast victories over seven of those eight teams this season. Only our next opponents Oldham have managed to take a point from us since the start of the season, so victory at Boundary Park in this fixture would set things right.

The worry with this fixture is the prospect of it falling foul of the atrocious weather being suffered in the North West at present. Oldham's trip to Blackpool on Boxing Day was postponed, and the Latics' last home game against Millwall two weeks ago was also called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Let's hope that the game goes ahead and allows the team to banish the gloom brought on by the Scunthorpe result.

The 1-0 loss ended a five game unbeaten run for Rovers that had seen us net 14 goals in that time and take points away from home against League One's leading sides. It also represented a first loss to the Iron in 10 meetings, ending a seven match winning run in the process. Oldham languish in 22nd place, have won only three matches in the league all season (the division's lowest tally) and are five matches without a victory in all competitions, only ending four straight losses in a home draw with Coventry last weekend.

Darren Ferguson may look to change things up after a poor performance on Boxing Day, with Mitchell Lund hauled off before the hour mark for a second game in a row and the trio of Conor Grant, Harry Middleton and James Coppinger failing to put a stamp on the game and win the midfield battle against Scunthorpe. In addition, Paul Keegan is pushing for a start whilst Nathan Tyson took a knock in the last match and may need to be assessed with the next game so soon after. Oldham's players may be refreshed having not played in nine days, but Rovers will be eager to get out on the front foot and make up for losing to bitter local rivals in front of a bumper home crowd.