David Dunn believes the long-awaited opening of the North Stand has taken a huge weight from the shoulders of the club, and hopes that success on the pitch will follow.
The North Stand finally opened at half capacity against Sheffield United, where 10-man Latics held on for a spirited 1-1 draw after Matty Done cancelled out Danny Philliskirk’s opener.
Loanee Jonathan Burn was sent off just after the hour mark, but Athletic were spurred on by the Boundary Park support to claim a point.
“I’m sure they are delighted with the new stand opening and I thought they were excellent,” said Dunn, who is still without a win from his six games in charge.
“It is a big burden lifted off the club, certainly in terms of the fans.
“It was a grind but the players worked their socks off and got the point. I think Oldham Athletic can take a lot of credit from that game.”
The 35-year-old welcomed back Jay Fulton and Cameron Dummigan after last weekend’s international commitments, but left himself out of the squad while new signing Ricardo Fuller came off the bench.
With a trip to managerless Swindon on Tuesday evening Dunn noted the importance of consistency and looks close to cementing his preferred squad having brought in six players since taking over from Darren Kelly.
“It is no good having a good week, a bad week, and then a good week again,” said Dunn.
“We have got to become more consistent, and if we can do that then our progression will become better.”
While the new stand’s opening will come as relief to fans who were previously irate about the club both on and off the pitch, the club in desperate need of a win to end a horrendous run of just one maximum in 23 matches.
Having drawn five and lost one since Dunn took the reins, the visit to a Swindon side in a downward spiral after selling a wealth of talent over the summer could be just what is needed to buck Latics’ form.
Image courtesy of OAFC via YouTube, with thanks.
