Expect no let-up from Oldham against minnows Hampton & Richmond

FA Cup first round
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Monday

Hampton & Richmond have landed an FA Cup first-round berth for just the third time in their history but hopes of a fairytale run could be shattered by visitors Oldham.

Losing finalists in last term's National League South playoffs, the home side have stuttered in the league this campaign, with six wins from 15 matches.

New boss Gary McCann brought in a group of players from his former club Hendon, including Tom Lovelock, Rian Bray and Zak Joseph, but his new side have struggled to gel.

They have shipped 21 league goals already this campaign and Oldham have the attacking weapons to bury the Beavers.

The Latics, relegated from Sky Bet League One last season, are on a poor run of form themselves with five wins from 17 games.

Their performances, however, suggest it is just a matter of time before Frankie Bunn's men start stringing together some results.

Oldham are winless in their last three games but they won the shot count in each of them and Hampton's feeble rearguard could struggle to contain the away team's wealth of attacking options.

Ex-Palace forward Jonathan Benteke, veteran Ishmael Miller and Chris O'Grady all joined this year to ease the scoring burden on top striker Sam Surridge, who has six league goals this term.

The League Two outfit have softened their league woes with convincing Football League Trophy triumphs over Everton U21s and Bradford and they can carry that form into the FA Cup.

Hampton edged past Eastleigh in the final qualifying round courtesy of an 85th-minute strike from Chris Dickson but they could have put the game to bed earlier.

Such wastefulness in front of goal will surely be punished by an Oldham outfit who have progressed beyond the competition's first round in seven of the last eight seasons.

McCann's men have shipped eight goals in their last three games and they could be put to the sword by Oldham's forwards.

Recommendation
Oldham to win & over 2.5 goals
1pt 17-10 Coral, Ladbrokes

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Hampton & Richmond
Striker Jack Connors, on loan from Dover, scored twice on his debut against Oxford City and is pushing for a start.

Oldham
Top goalscorer Sam Surridge hasn't featured since October 9. With Jonathan Benteke, Ishmael Miller and Chris O'Grady providing attacking options, Surridge may not be risked from the start.

Key stat
15 of Oldham’s 21 goals in Sky Bet League Two this term have come in the second half of matches

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook