Oldham Athletic manager Dean Holden is eyeing a strong finish to the season as Oldham play their last five games.
The Latics are 13th in League One and still in touching distance of both the play-off places and the relegation zone, but realistically will not end up in either.
Oldham have been in patchy form under Holden, taking ten points from his ten games in charge, but the interim manager has called on his players to show their best side for the remainder of the season.
“We want a fine end to the season for us,” he said.
“We have had some good times and some not so good times, so whenever we have come up against it, certainly since I’ve been in charge, when there is a challenge to respond to, the lads have usually done that.
“I fully expect them to do that on Saturday.”
His side play fifth-placed Sheffield United on Saturday and he expects a tough match from a side looking to book their place in the play-offs.
“We know what Sheffield United are going to be about,” admitted Holden.
“They are a very good team who have experience and are very good defensively so we will have to be very creative on the day to get some goals.
“They have had a good surge recently and they should be up there with the players that they have got.
“We watched them last week at Barnsley and they could have won by a couple more on the day, probably.
“Against Doncaster the other night they had another interesting game but we know we have a lot to do to get something out the game but when people don’t fancy us, we have responded. It’s a very exciting game for all of us.”
Holden took over at Oldham after Lee Johnson left for Barnsley in February, and was installed as interim manager until the end of the season.
And though the former Latics captain insists he has always had long-term plans in mind, he is still focusing on closing out the season one game at a time.
“In terms of next season and pre-season, that needs to be looked at in terms of organising games and where lads are going to train. That’s all going on in the background but that’s nothing to worry about,” he said.
“You have to plan because you don’t want to be caught under-prepared and that’s something I’ll never be. Like I said on day one, I have prepared as if I’m going to be here for the long term because that’s the way I think it should be done.
“If that’s not the case then so be it. I’m preparing for Saturday’s game first and foremost but in the back of my mind there is pre-season organisation, recruitment, training facilities – there are a whole host of things that I’d like to put in place.”
Main image courtesy of CFC Official via YouTube, with thanks.
