Nicky Adams ready to prove Oldham Athletic's doubters wrong

John Sheridan inherited a side that was rock bottom of League Two and seven points adrift of safety when the club legend returned a sixth spell in charge in January.

Latics were in a low place, physically and mentally. But they have fought their way back and being three goals better off than Stevenage keeps them just above the drop zone going into the Easter weekend games.

Adams remains determined to prove those who had written Latics off wrong.

"Before the gaffer came in, we were well adrift and teams had already said we were down,” said Adams.

"At Christmastime we were rock bottom below Scunthorpe, so it's great character from the boys to get back to where we've got to.

"Before Christmas it wasn't good enough, we weren't winning games, we weren't playing well.

“There’s been a massive change.

“We're in a fight now, we've given ourselves a massive chance.

"We've just got to keep believing.

"There are no easy games, it doesn't matter who you're playing.

“You saw against Stevenage it was a big game and it was a tough game, two teams fighting for their lives, and in many ways it was tougher than Port Vale because it was backs against the wall. You've got to go to these places and fight and we'll certainly do that to the end.

"We were disappointed with the result (at Port Vale) but the fans clapped us off because they know we gave it a real go.

“We've just got to do that for the last five games.”

Adams added: “Saturday was tough to take because we really should have come away with a result.

"Decisions didn't go our way, at times big decisions. But we kept our heads and I think at the end - they're a team flying high at the top, they went five at the back because we were getting in so much.

"They're a really good team.

"I said to the boys if we can go to places like this against teams at the top and we can match them for the majority of the game and create so many chances we'll give ourselves a right chance.”