How Oldham Athletic are getting the best out of Lundstram

The new-to-the-market Omoda 5 is described as having the perfect balance of performance, comfort, and style, featuring a powerful yet efficient engine for a dynamic driving experience. But they could easily be talking about Lundstram himself.

The midfielder is not new to Latics, but he has been like a new player this season; delivering consistent performances, comfortable on the ball, stylish in attack, making dynamic, driving runs forward with the ball.

His first campaign with Latics was one of frustration. Beset by injury initially, Lundstram then struggled to establish himself in the line-up under Micky Mellon.

Micky Mellon has found the ideal role for Josh Lundstram (Image: Phill Smith)

But Latics manager Micky Mellon could see the potential for the player who was voted the National League's best in the north west for his final season at Altrincham within his own framework, and in the summer declared that it was his intention to build the team around him.

It took some tinkering to find the best fit in terms of formation and where Lundstram was most effective within that. But he has thrived in the attacking role he has been given, and the licence that he has been given in it to really get Latics motoring up the table.

"At the start of the season I started in a bit of a deeper role but we've come across me playing in this number 10 position and it's working really," he explained, after scoring the first and setting James Norwood up for the second with a sublime ball over the top in a 4-0 midweek over Boston.

"It all depends how the team fits but in the past I've played a little bit deeper and that's been good for me, but playing here it's obviously suiting me a lot more playing further forward, which I'm really enjoying.

"Within this team I can use the attributes that I've got really well in that more advanced role.

"I can drive forward with the ball a lot more and if you do lose the ball in a high position it's not as risky as if you were playing in your own half."

He took a gamble that paid off to put Latics in front after just eight minutes, nicking the ball off James Norwood in the box in the build-up and firing past Aidan Stone.

"The ball went in to Nors and I knew he was going to turn so it was just a gamble on maybe he was going to turn and have a shot but as it happened I think his touch went slightly too far and it was perfectly into my path in the end so I was happy just to finish it off," smiled Lundstram, who then turned provider for his team-mate.

Josh Lundstram set up James Norwood (pictured) for the second against Boston (Image: Phill Smith)

Sam Clucas won possession back in midfield, Lundstram was close by, looked up, and hit a brilliant ball over the top for Norwood to finish clinically across the keeper and into the bottom corner for his seventh of the season.

Latics could and should have had more to show for a first half that they completely bossed, as after a talking to at half-time from new boss Graham Coughlan Boston came back out with a bit more bite, and Mat Hudson had to be on his mettle to make sure of a fourth straight clean sheet in the National League before an additional boost to the goal difference.

Before the previous game against Tamworth it was in single figures, but with Josh Stones scoring his first in the league since his return - slotting through Stone's legs after bursting on to Manny Monthe's long ball forward - and substitute Mike Fondop hitting double figures for the season already from the penalty spot after being tripped when he pulled the trigger, it has spiked.

Back-to-back 4-0 wins has accelerated optimism within the camp. But just like Tamworth, they were in cruise control and comfortable. It's exciting to think what could be achieved when they really hit top gear.