In the fourth part of our view on opposition teams for the 2013/14 season we look at Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Port Vale and Preston North End.
Oldham Athletic
Boundary Park – Capacity 10,638
Oldham have faced Stevenage four times over the last two seasons and the Boro have been victorious in 2 of those, drawing one and losing one. The only loss came in February 2013 – James Dunne gave Stevenage the lead only to be pegged back and beaten by two second half strikes.
place in the division, and enjoyed an FA Cup run alongside their league campaign. They became the thorn in the side of Merseyside as they knocked out Liverpool and took Everton to a replay, but they fell short of a famous victory at Goodison Park.thThe Latics finished three points behind Boro last season, in 19
Head to Head record in Football League:
P: 4 W: 2 D: 1 L: 1 GF: 4 GA: 3
Peterbrough United
London Road – Capacity 15,314
Peterborough return to League One after a two year spell in the Championship. Boro defeated Torquay United at Old Trafford for promotion to this division and the following day Peterborough had a hard-fought final with Huddersfield Town, after coming out victorious they spent two seasons in the second-tier but were relegated on the final day of last season.
The two sides are yet to have met in the Football League but since our promotion from the Blue Square Premier we have played one competitive game – a Carling Cup tie at the Lamex Stadium. An enthralling match went to extra time when United won it in the last seconds with a penalty – won by former Boro man George Boyd, and converted by Lee Tomlin.
Head to Head record in Football League:
Teams yet to face each other in the Football League.
Port Vale
Vale Park – Capacity 18,947
Port Vale join us in League One after a successful 12/13 campaign which resulted in promotion after they finished in the third and final automatic promotion spot – two points ahead of Burton Albion.
We have played the Vale twice in the Football League, those games coming in our single League Two season, and we won both fixtures. Away from home on a Tuesday night David Bridges, Peter Winn and an own-goal helped Boro to a 3-1 victory, whilst in the home game Lawrie Wilson was the difference in a one-goal win.
The clubs also met a year earlier in the FA Cup, and then non-league Boro earned a replay after a 1-1 draw at Vale Park, only to be beaten 1-0 at the Lamex.
Head to Head record in Football League:
P: 2 W: 2 D: 0 L: 0 GF: 4 GA: 1
Preston North End
Deepdale – Capacity 23,408
Stevenage and Preston have had an interlinked year or so, with Graham Westley moving to the Lillywhites before returning for a third spell at the Lamex Stadium. As well as him, many players have moved between the clubs including Scott Laird, John Mousinho and David Gray.
place in the league last season, 5 points ahead of Stevenage and 11 ahead of the relegation places. Looking up they were 15 points of the Play-off spots.thPreston ended in 14
In the last two season Boro have found them a tough proposition, and Westley himself returned last year to defeat Gary Smith’s Stevenage 4-1 on a tough afternoon at the Lamex. The return fixture ended 2-0 to North End as they did the double over Boro.
Head to Head record in Football League:
P: 4 W: 0 D:2 L:2 GF: 2 GA: 7
Next up on Monday we will look at Rotherham, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury Town and Swindon Town.