SELIM Benachour said he was "proud" of the effort his players put in despite suffering a 2-0 derby defeat to Salford City in his first game in interim charge.
The Academy coach was asked to make the step up to lead the first team following Keith Curle's departure from Boundary Park earlier this week.
Latics made a bright start to the game, but after failing to convert their chances into goals - a familiar story this season - they were stung on the stroke of half-time when Matthew Lund glanced a header from a free kick past Jayson Leutwiler.
Benachour felt his players took their foot off the gas in the second half, although substitute Jack Stobbs almost had an instant impact as he smashed a shot off the crossbar.
But from there Salford quickly doubled their advantage through Brandon Thomas-Asante's volley, and Latics struggled for a way back into the game.
"It was difficult. Well done to the players, they gave everything. They tried to give everything," said Benachour, who favoured a back four, while Zak Dearnley started as lone striker.
"They've scored from two set pieces, one throw-in and one free kick, so they didn't really break us down.
"We need to work. The team is a little bit sick and we need time to treat it. But what I see today I see a lot of players involved in the project, a lot of players want to turn this negativity and bad results around and I think in time we will get there."
Benachour, who sent his players running towards a sell-out away end before the game, had also decided beforehand that they would huddle together on the pitch after the final whistle regardless of the outcome - a move that seemed to mystify fans.
"It's not easy because I've only worked with them for two days, but like I told them in the end when we stayed in the middle of the pitch, I'm proud," said the interim head coach.
"They tried to do their best. I saw in the second half we went down a little bit in our intensity so we need to work on that. But I have faith in them, I will always protect them because they are good lads, they are a good dressing room and I think we will bounce back quickly."
Of the pre-match and post-match gestures, Benachour added: "I like to do this at the end of the warm-up to sprint to the fans and to clap. I bring these news things in and we will keep doing that.
"I wanted to do that before the game and at the end of the game.
"When we stayed on the pitch (at the end) we were talking about the game. The captain spoke and I spoke and I think we will do it each game.
"We need to create a team bond, a team spirit, so I told them before the game that whether we win, lose or draw we need to go to the fans to clap them because they have come to support us and it's our job to do that."
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