Sport

Season ‘suddenly real’ for Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson as League One fixtures released

By Matthew Lees

Oldham Athletic boss Lee Johnson will begin his first full season as a manager with an away trip at the Lamex Stadium to play Stevenage.

The fixtures were released at 9am this morning and Latics will kick off their campaign in Hertfordshire on August 3 before their Capital One Cup tie against Derby County.

With big clubs such as Wolves, Coventry City and Sheffield United also in League One next season, Johnson believes the opening game is one to look forward to.

“When you see the fixtures, the new season suddenly becomes real,” he told the club’s website.

“Obviously I looked at the first game which is at Stevenage which is a good one to start with.

“I then went for Boxing Day and Sheffield United away is a great fixture. I always loved playing at Bramall Lane and that might tempt me to do so again.”

Like last season, the season’s first league home game is against Walsall with two further games at Boundary Park in August following a trip to Peterborough United.

Having played for recently relegated Bristol City for five years, Johnson considers them to be one of the League One favourites but feels there may be a few surprises.

“I think everybody knows who the big hitters ought to be, but that isn’t always the case,” he added.

“I expect the likes of Wolves, Bristol City, Preston and MK Dons to be up there.

“There are usually one or two others who come out of the woodwork like Yeovil did last season.” 

Oldham will be at home on both New Year’s Day and Easter Monday with games against Shrewsbury Town and Coventry City and will also end the campaign at Boundary Park against Notts County on May 3.

Fans will have to wait until September 14 for their first visit to Rotherham’s New York Stadium and they face a midweek trip to Molineux on October 22 when Latics play Wolves.

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