Settled line-up has helped team

The Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

SO it’s another game chalked off and a further point towards our safety target for survival against a team destined for Championship football next season.

Not many people would have given Latics a chance in our previous two fixtures - but having drawn against Orient and Brentford, the lads felt we should have taken more against the promotion contenders - which shows the quality in both performances.

The gaffer was able to field the same starting XI for the third successive game last weekend - something that hasn’t happened throughout the season due to injuries, suspensions and poor form.

It is important to have a settled regular starting line-up to help players form an understanding in partnerships. In the recent contests it is clear it has made a difference.

Though we were disappointed not to take maximum points against the Bees, we must remain positive because in the end it could have gone either way.

Tomorrow’s local encounter at Bradford is a battle Athletic really must approach aggressively.

Our home affair against them had a real good atmosphere – possibly one of the best at Boundary Park since I’ve been here. The game was played at a ferocious pace that day and I expect it to be a similar scenario this time.