It’s easy to be pessimistic as an Oldham fan. The club has had no tangible success for over 30 years and we are still languishing in the National League for a third season having never been a non-league club before.

So when we have three games that we really should have won, and only didn’t due to clear missed chances - such as the three squandered by Mike Fondop on Saturday at Altrincham - it is easy to think we aren’t on track as we enter the second month of the season.

The stats arguably back that up too with Micky Mellon’s Latics being draw specialists in 2024 and currently occupying ninth spot in the infant 2024/25 league table.

However, despite the disappointment of not taking all three points on a fantastic day out in Altrincham, I think it’s important that we look at the positives and the strides forward we have taken so far this season.

The mentality of the squad has clearly improved, and in most games we have seen a side that wants to take the game to their opposition.

Apart from one off day at Aldershot, we have looked solid at the back. Mat Hudson is an excellent shot stopper for this level and he is being covered very well in front of him by the new back three.

Further forward, Josh Lundstram is doing much better in spells and needs to add consistency to that and Tom Conlon and Harry Charsley, the latter especially, have been bright sparks in midfield, where we can hopefully continue to improve and really dominate that area, especially at home.

Mike Fondop missed good chances at AltrinchamMike Fondop missed good chances at Altrincham (Image: Thomas Lee Stacey)

Chances are being created; this was a real problem last season and with the outstanding James Norwood getting off the mark on Saturday and slowly getting back to match fitness, it’ll be great to see him in the positions to take the opportunities we have missed in the last third of games recently when he has had to go off.

Another centre forward (you know who or someone else) will hopefully complement Joe Garner’s return too and we look to have a squad that can really challenge high up the table.

It is true that results haven’t been good enough so far especially against those teams that are likely to be in and around us at the business end of the season - the yardstick matches as the gaffer called them - but it is still early and whilst we can’t afford to keep drawing matches forever, it looks to me like we are on the right track heading forward.

With Southend coming to OL1 on Saturday for another yardstick test, there’s no time like the present for turning those chances into goals and one points into three.