EASTER HAS long been regarded as one of the defining periods of the football season with a number of fixtures crammed into a short period of time.
It is a time when dreams of silverware and glory can be strengthened or may be disappear if results are not favourable. 
In the case of Latics, their attention is at the opposite end of the table where the holiday programme saw them remain embroiled in a battle against relegation from npower League One.
They had been hoping that a six-point haul from their two Easter matches at Swindon Town and home to Colchester United would ease their troubles.
But two 1-1 draws leaves them in the danger zone, though Monday’s draw against Colchester lifted them out of the bottom four and immediate danger, albeit only on goal difference from Scunthorpe.
It looks like being a tense April for Latics in their battle to retain their League One status and with seven league games remaining.
It is beginning to appear that Hartlepool, Bury and Portsmouth are doomed, but the last relegation place is far from clear cut. And unless something dramatic happens, it looks as though it will be between Scunthorpe, Colchester and Latics.
In Latics’ favour is the fact they have played two less matches than Scunthorpe and Colchester which could prove decisive.
It has been the dawn of as new era at Boundary Park with Lee Johnson (pictured) named as Latics’ new manager. And aged only 31, he is the youngest manager of any of the 92 League clubs.
The appointment of Johnson certainly slipped under the radar as the bookmakers had stopped taking bets on Iain Dowie who appeared the odds-on favourite for the post. And others like Phil Brown and Sammy Lee had been heavily linked with the job.
Johnson’s enthusiasm in his short time at Latics has been infectious and he has been a breath of fresh air and unbeaten in his first three matches.
He could not have dreamed of a better start than a 3-0 home victory against Hartlepool which has been followed by two draws over Easter.
If Latics can maintain that ratio for their remaining games they ought to amass the nine points still required to reach 50 which is usually the benchmark for safety
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