Manager Joe Royle faced a make or break the six-day spell which could determine whether his Oldham side would have a premier league future. Bottom club Oldham was set to meet two struggling rivals equally desperate for points to pull them clear of the danger zone. The visit to Sheffield United was to is followed by a trip to Everton later that week.
Joe Royle said “Both are crunch games and we know what we have to do. We may be bottom but no way are we the worst team in the league.”
Oldham had just got promoted to the premier league by the virtue of winning the second division of the English football in the 1991 season ahead of West Ham and Sheffield Wednesday.