Ollie Banks scored the decisive goal at Boundary Park on Tuesday night to further the fight to avoid relegation. The 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic moved the Latics three points clear of the relegation spots and made it five wins out of eight matches since John Sheridan took back the reigns.
The manager said, “All I can do is praise my players. They are doing everything required to get out of the position we are in. Anyone who knows me, how I played myself and how the teams I have managed play, knows I want us to pass and move and play from the back. But it is not the right time to do that. The players understand that and are sticking to what I think will get us out of it. We are hard to play against. We don't half put in a shift, every one of them. The subs who came on too, they all know what we are trying to do. If we score first, we are not a bad team for wanting to keep clean sheets and fighting for everything to get to three points.”
“Again, that's what we have done. They put us under pressure and Connor Ripley made one or two saves, but we had one or two great chances as well. I'm chuffed to bits the way we went about the game. It's about the three points, that's what we are after. Peter Clarke hit a post when I thought it was in. We know what shape we are playing in and what everyone's job is when going back to defend. They all put bodies on the line when they have to and we are creating chances. I have a strong bench and there are 18 or 19 players who I am comfortable with whoever I play, which is a good sign. I have to keep them all on their toes and as sharp as I can, because I am not frightened to put people in the team - as I showed here and probably will on Saturday. I want them all thinking they have a chance of playing. Whatever decisions I make are purely for the benefit of Oldham. I am only bothered about us picking the points up. We all know what we think the points tally needed will be. If we can gain an advantage on teams in and around us, so be it. Hopefully we go to Swindon with a bit of confidence. We should have.”