Oldham have made a distinctly inconsistent start to the year with two wins, two defeats and a draw and manager Johnson understandably wants some stability.

Barnsley scored with their first attack when Kane Hemmings got on the end of a Milan Lalkovic cross to poke the Tykes into a 12th minute lead which Oldham never pegged back.

Oldham secured the services of Jacob Mellis, Jake Kean, Conor Wilkinson and Rhys Murphy, while James Dayton, Paul Rachubka and David Mellor all departed during the January transfer window as Lee Johnson’s men go to Barnsley tonight.

Keep up to date with the latest transfers on deadline day as we take you around Manchester’s league clubs.

Oldham scored two goals in two first-half minutes as they eased to a comfortable and well-deserved 3-0 win at home to Notts County.

The Latics sit 14th in the table, but are just three points off bitter rivals Rochdale in sixth place, and so still hold onto faint hopes of making the play-offs.

While the FA Cup continues to perplex football forecasters around the country, MM take a look at Greater Manchester’s five league clubs and their prospects for the rest of the season.

Bradley Dack’s deflected volley with 20 minutes remaining earned Gillingham all three points and left Johnson rueing missed chances.

After a goalless first half Carl Winchester scored his first of the season with a curling 20-yard shot before Liam Kelly’s precise free-kick secured the points for the Latics.

Jabo Ibehre and George Elokobi put Oldham in front, but after Joseph Mills saw red with fifteen minutes remaining Doncaster clawed their way back with goals from Nathan Tyson and James Coppinger.

Manager Lee Johnson expects this week’s developments in the Ched Evans saga will not deter fans from getting behind his team as they face Doncaster Rovers, the Latics looking to start afresh after a torrid end to 2014.