New keepers sign on ahead of derby clash
LOCAL rivals go head to head today as WIGAN ATHLETIC and BURY meet in a League One clash at the DW Stadium.
Both teams head into the match on the back of wins on the opening day of the season, with Wigan winning 1-0 at Milton Keynes Dons while Bury defeated Walsall 1-0 at home.
There could be two new goalkeepers on display in the game, with Wigan signing experienced No 1 Jamie Jones this week, much to the delight of boss Paul Cook.
“Jamie is someone I know well having been on opposition teams we have played, and we needed competition for Christian Walton,” he said.
“He is an excellent goalkeeper who is a natural shot-stopper and commands his area well so we are really pleased to have him on board.”
Bury’s new goalkeeper is former Celtic player Leo Fasan, who arrives at the JD Stadium on non-contract terms.
He has been training with Bury for the past week, and also spent time at Port Vale last season.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC are hoping to get their first win of the season when they travel to Walsall.
Latics lost their opening league match to Oxford last week, before also suffering defeat in the Carabao Cup against Burton on Wednesday.
Oldham will have a new signing in their squad for the match against Walsall after Belgian youngster Gyamfi Kyeremeh joined the ranks following a successful trial period, and he says playing in England is a dream come true.
“It’s a new challenge for me and I’m really looking forward to playing in England because as a kid you always dream of playing here,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to John Sheridan when he welcomed me and he is a very nice man. He is also hard, but fair. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
ROCHDALE will also be searching for their first win of the league campaign when they welcome Scunthorpe United to the Crown Oil Arena.
Dale lost 2-0 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park last Saturday, but did bounce back with a cup win over Mansfield in midweek, and manager Keith Hill was glad to get the victory.
“It was a winning performance against Mansfield. I was relatively happy with our intensity and the speed at which we played,” he said.
“Mansfield were a threat from set-plays and they’re very effective from those situations but we did reasonably well.”
In the Championship, BOLTON WANDERERS are on their travels as they make the trip to The Den to take on Millwall.
Bolton suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Leeds United in their opening game last week, while Millwall were also beaten, losing 1-0 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.