Sports Editor Tony Bugby brings us the latest from Oldham Athletic.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC are getting into their stride following a challenging start to their Sky Bet League One campaign.
They have collected seven points from a possible nine to climb into the top half of the table having found themselves in the relegation places after failing to win in their first four league games and also making an exit from the Capital One Cup.
It was hardly surprising there was a faltering start as manager Lee Johnson had a new-look team which was assembled in the summer following some big-name departures.
The capture of striker Conor Wilkinson on loan from Bolton Wanderers last Friday was the 11th signing of the summer which equates to a complete new team of players.
It has been a summer of enormous change and even on transfer deadline day there was a frenzy of activity as teenage striker Jonson Clarke-Harris was sold to Rotherham United for a sizeable, but undisclosed fee.
Latics used some of the cash to bring in Leeds United striker Dominic Poleon and midfield man Michael Tidser on loan from Rotherham.
Clarke-Harris, the club’s undoubted jewel, will be a big miss and Latics will be hoping Poleon and Wilkinson can fill the void.
There are no such concerns with Latics’ defence as the clean sheet in the home goalless draw against Gillingham was their fourth successive shut out.
And the capture of former Wolves central defender George Elokobi has been a masterstroke as he and James Wilson have formed a rock solid partnership.
As well as climbing the league table, Latics also defeated Bradford City in the opening round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Latics’ improved fortunes will be put to the test, however, as three of their next four games are on the road at Swindon Town, Notts County and Peterborough United. The only home game in that sequence is against Scunthorpe.
It will be interesting to see where Latics sit in the table after those four fixtures.
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