Oldham head into Saturday’s trip to bottom side Crewe Alexandra with an unfamiliar favourites tag on their shoulders, and David Dunn is keen to win back the fans’ affections after back-to-back home defeats.
Latics succumbed to a 5-2 Boundary Park defeat at the hands of Southend in midweek, after Barnsley had taken all three points home with them on the weekend.
With fans understandably underwhelmed with their side’s home form, Dunn assured them that he is more desperate than anyone to turn things around at Alexandra Stadium.
“I can understand everyone’s frustrations at the way we are starting games at the minute, and that is no different to myself,” said the 35-year-old.
“If I was a fan, paying my season ticket money and coming down to watch every week, of course I would want to see my team do better at home – especially when we are doing so well away.
“Obviously I want to win. I want people to appreciate and like me for the job we are doing. At the minute, that is not quite happening.”
But Oldham’s away form is a different story – on top of successive away wins over Swindon and Chesterfield, Athletic are in good company as one of only four teams in English football unbeaten on the road.
They are joined by Premier League leaders Leicester City, Ronald Koeman’s Southampton, and Championship promotion-chasers Brighton, and Dunn will be looking to build on the record as his side make the short journey to struggling Crewe this weekend.
The Railwaymen prop up League One on goal difference, but have won twice in their last four and could pose a stern test for a visiting side low on confidence and desperate to escape the danger zone.
“We have got a really big fixture this weekend. We need to get a win,” said Dunn.
“The inconsistency we are showing at the minute is obviously the reason we are where we are. At this moment in time it is important we get what the problems are and try to fix them.”
Former Latic Ritchie Wellens could feature after joining on loan from Doncaster, while Jake Cassidy and Mike Jones will make long-awaited returns to the matchday squad following injuries.
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