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Its back to business this weekend as the Bees go in search of three more valuable points in Lancashire. BillyTheBee catches up with Matt Allen (@mattoldham) and chats James Tarkoswki’s lucky husky, Oldham celebrating like they won the cup and that man Johnson.

What was your first game ?

My first game was against Swindon in 96/97 season just before Graeme Sharp resigned. We won the game 5-1!! So not a bad start to my supporting days! I didn’t return until a few seasons later.

You guys are very much in Brentford’s good books after your late, late, equaliser at Orient on Tuesday night. There were even chants of “We love you Oldham” on the Brentford terraces.

Haha – Yeah I heard about that via your @beesotted twitter feed. Glad we could help! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make the game on Tuesday, but by all accounts, it was a fair result and we possible could have sneaked it. What a way to level it. Wonder strike!

The word on the street is when you scored that equaliser, you celebrated like you had won the FA Cup. Did Russell rap your knuckles?

Yeah it was a vital point. Builds on a solid 1-0 win over Crawley Town on Saturday and it moves us one point closer to safety.

Talking of Orient, Hull City have now recalled both your goalkeepers. Oxley from you guys and Jakupovic from Orient. Orient are screwing. Was he a key players for you guys?

He had been, but had been dropped in recent weeks for Paul Rachubka. Not a big loss for us I don’t think. I can imagine Orient are unhappy. He had been a key player for them.

You had the pleasure of being the guest team for Mark Warburton’s first game as Brentford manager in December. A 93rd minute winner set him on the way to a run which has seen him lose only two matches since then. How have you guys fared since the last time we met?

Yeah I was at that game, it was a real punch in the gut! Fair play to your lads for playing ’til the whistle. We have a tendency to switch off at the end of halves (Crewe away another example), but I don’t think there were many people in the ‘house’ that day who thought we didn’t deserve a share of the spoils.

Your manager is related to a man who caused us much sorrow last season – Yeovil’s Gary Johnson. How has he slotted into his first managerial role?

I can imagine it was heart breaking. We’ve flirted with play-offs a couple of times and there is no worse way to loose. Johnson is settling. There was much hope for this season and expectations of mid-table, or higher, were banded about. However, he has just signed a new 3 year extension to his contract and I think we will stay up this season and come good next year.

The star of the show is undoubtedly Gary Harkins,or as we like to call him, the Scottish Messi! (McMessi or the Loch Messi Monster would be better – Ed). He is a real character on a off the ball and his skill and touch are exquisite! The midfield duo of Korey Smith, captain, and James Wesolowski are really dynamic pair who can tackle and get forward.

You had a few Bees on your books. Robbie Simpson was sort of a Bee – on loan from Huddersfield as was Tom Adeyemi who we had on loan from Norwich. Charlie McDonald was definitely a Bee. Any of them going to claim a place in the Oldham hall of fame?

I’m afraid not. Simpson comes closest for his wonder strike against Liverpool in the FA Cup a few years ago and that is about it really. Charlie Mac is a real pest and I am pretty sure he has played for every single club south of the Watford gap.

Talking of Bees Oldham connection, James Tarkowski’s lucky husky. Explain.

Well now we come to the main brunt of club and fan anger at the moment. Of course James Tarkowski is a fine, fine, player and he will get a very warm welcome. However, Mark Warbuton not so much after renegading on a gentleman’s agreement with Lee Johnson to loan ‘Tarky’ back to us. Article here should explain more.

You had that mad mad mad Peterborough game with nine goals. You were 3-0 down at half time and 4-3 down with a minute to go but won 5-4. Talk us through that game. What was the atmosphere like?

That game was before my stewarding days and I am glad. It was utter carnage when we scored the winner. One of the best games of football I have ever been to. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Over 500 people left at half time.

Darren Ferguson must have been having absolute kittens. Your boys didn’t do much there for the #savedarrenferguson campaign

Darren Ferguson can go f**k himself in mine, and many others’, opinions. I wouldn’t have liked to be his wife that night!!

Didn’t you have some mad initiative recently which asked all the fans to sit in one stand of the stadium so that you could generate some atmosphere?

Yeah, so basically the idea being that we get fantastic away support, in fact we are currently fifth in the away support as a % of home support. However home attendances aren’t as lively. The plan was that if the fans are all sat together then more noise can be generated which can ‘g’ the lads up. I’d class it as a success as we won! Well the big game is always Rochdale, which will be back on the cards next season. This season though it has been Bradford, Rotherham & Sheff Utd. Let’s not forget the FA Cup with Liverpool (again) away a cracking day out.

Would it not have been better to maybe pipe in some fan chanting instead?

Haha – I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that!

That Peterborough game and your 2-1 away win at Wolves in the FA Cup were probably your best results.

Yeah it has been a pretty dismal season for the most part. Loss of key player like ‘Tarky’ and Jose Baxter has hurt and we have been unlucky with injuries, but there is no excuse in some games for the lack of passion and energy that has been on show. We like to pass it on the ground and walk in to the net, for want of a better phrase, however, we can knock up top if it is required.

Your chairman, Simon Corney, has gone on record saying if Oldham get relegated, he’s going to sell up. Knows how to motivate the troops then doesn’t he?

It happens every year pretty much. It is Simon’s soap box time of year. To be frank we’re lucky to have such a fantastic chairman and I for one would be gutted to see him go. He often wears his heart on his sleeves and speaks without thinking, but if any Oldham fan thinks he doesn’t love this club, then they need to get their heads testing. A fine man who is doing a brilliant job, in my opinion, with the resources he has, which is not a lot.

Head to head, Brentford are streets ahead winning 21 games to Oldham’s 14 with 19 games drawn. Time for you to reverse things do you think?

To be frank, no!! I would love a point and I am going for a 2-2 result. Fun fact that Oldham have not had a 0-0 for 104 games in succession!

I think top two will stay as is, with Wolves claiming the League One title and you guys second. At the rate of knots Rotherham are going I can’t look past them for Play-Off winners. As for relegation it’s a lot trickier as it is very tight. Stevenage, Notts County and Shrewsbury I think are doomed. In the words of Kevin Keegan I would absolutely love it if Tranmere went down. Wouldn’t surprise me to learn Uncle Ronnie had but a bet on it. Oldham despises everything about that club.

Where do you recommend away fans hang out out pre-match?

White Hart & Grey Mare are just a two minute walk from the ground and are both decent match day boozers. There is a Brewers Fare type place called Clayton Green which is decent if you want some pre-match grub.

Unfortunately there are no decent ale pubs near the ground which is very disappointing.

Big thanks to Matt for taking time out to give us the Oldham SP. He’ll be stewarding the away section on Saturday so give him a big hug.