Mellon Knows What Oldham Must Do To Join Promotion Race

The Latics have given themselves a lot to do in each of their first four matches.

They had to fight back to grab a point at home to Eastleigh on Saturday after Chris Maguire’s penalty kick with an Alex Reid leveller with 20 minutes to go unable to spark a total turn around at Boundary Park.

Oldham are five points off the play-offs and head to managerless Woking on Saturday before next Wednesday’s live TNT Sports game at title-hunters Barnet.

“We continually having to chase games and show character,” the former Tranmere manager, a two time National League promotion winner, said. “We've got to be better. We're giving away too many cheap goals - we always seem to be chasing games.

“The only time we scored the first goal was at Rochdale. So we need to try to address that because it's difficult when you play chasing football. Conceding first teams you are always starting on the backfoot.

“We’re disappointed to have not gone on and won the game but equally we could have lost it. We’re conceding silly fouls at important times. We’re also not taking our chances at the other end. We had six good opportunities to score before we did.”

He has also been speaking about strengthening his squad

"If I can find that quality from outside to bring in I'll do that, if I can make the players better that I've got I will work on doing that,” he said.

“Then obviously if there are any opportunities that I think suit any of the players - because I think I'm a fair guy - if the opportunity's there to go and play football somewhere else and it doesn't look likely they'll get an awful lot here I have to respect that.”