Sport

Oldham have made a distinctly inconsistent start to the year with two wins, two defeats and a draw and manager Johnson understandably wants some stability.

McCain, who trains a successful stable in Cheshire as he prepares for the March 10-13 Festival, is the son of the late Ginger, the trainer who exercised three-time Grand National winner Red Rum on a Southport beach.

Wigan raced into a 16-6 lead before half time at The Select Security Stadium, with Widnes also having Patrick Ah Van sent off, before the hosts fought back to snatch a point in the dying embers of the game.

The 22-year-old, who trains at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, switched partners in September as the British team gears up for another Olympic cycle in the build up to Rio 2016.

More than 1,000 fans will embark on a 500-mile round-trip to attend FC United of Manchester’s FA Trophy quarter-final fixture against Conference Premier side Torquay United this weekend while Premier League devotees struggle to afford rising ticket prices.

Barnsley scored with their first attack when Kane Hemmings got on the end of a Milan Lalkovic cross to poke the Tykes into a 12th minute lead which Oldham never pegged back.

The Warriors came painstakingly close to a fourth Super League crown last term, only to be pipped at the post by local rivals St Helens, and Joel Tomkins was adamant the squad will take it further this season – starting with victory in the World Club Series.

After moving past Cambridge United, the Red Devils now face Preston North End in the last 16 and United’s Dutch boss is well aware that silverware could be just four games away.

Oldham secured the services of Jacob Mellis, Jake Kean, Conor Wilkinson and Rhys Murphy, while James Dayton, Paul Rachubka and David Mellor all departed during the January transfer window as Lee Johnson’s men go to Barnsley tonight.

Spain’s Juan Mata says United are fully focused on dispatching Cambridge United in their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday after stalwart Darren Fletcher left for West Bromwich Albion.

The FA Cup is Manchester United’s top priority this season, according to defender Luke Shaw, ahead of tonight’s fourth-round replay against League Two side Cambridge United.