Oldham’s spirit and determination pleases boss Bunn

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Oldham boss Frankie Bunn said his side showed spirit and determination to pick up three points thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 win at Morecambe.

Two goals in two minutes earned the Latics their first away win of the season but they were made to defend against a home side who dominated for long periods.

Chris O’Grady handed them the lead after 27 minutes when he volleyed home from close range when the Shrimps failed to clear a Gevaro Nepomuceno cross and – just a minute later – they struck again with a swift counter attack.

Liam Mandeville was dispossessed on the halfway line and Oldham switched the ball quickly to the right where Dan Gardner’s cross found Nepomuceno, who volleyed neatly past goalkeeper Mark Halstead from close range.

Bunn handed particular praise to goalkeeper Daniel Iversen for a number of “world-class” saves.

He said: “It was a tough game. It wasn’t pleasing on the eye but the way we defended and the performance of the goalkeeper saw us through.

“Daniel produced some world-class saves in the game and was the spur for the back line to keep them out.

“Overall though to score two goals away from home and keep a clean sheet means we are going in the right direction and there are a lot of positives we can take.

“We managed the game well once we got the goals and there is a real sense that there is a growing bond and this was another step in the right direction.

“Seven points from nine makes it a good week and we can build from here.

“Seven points from nine this week gives us something to build on. We are not the finished article yet by any means and we will have our ups and downs.

“Today wasn’t pretty but it was the right result and we move on.”

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley said his side deserved something from the game but admitted they needed to start putting the ball in the back of the net after scoring only one goal in five games this season.

He said: “We played some great stuff and I can’t fault the lads in many ways. We created a host of chances but came up against a keeper who made some superb saves and was man of the match for them.

“There is no doubt we will play worse than that and win games but – at the end of the day – it is all about putting the ball in the back of the net and we haven’t done that again which is really frustrating.

“We are doing everything right in many ways. We are dominating games but for one reason or another are just not putting the ball in the back of the net and that has to change.

“There is a real sense that we are doing a lot of things right but if you don’t score you don’t win games and this is a results business so it has to change and it has to change quickly.”