Finally, the Latics managed a home win, albeit against a poor Cheltenham Town team who were reduced to 10 men for half a game. Even so, it was the three points which were of most importance on a night where the home crowd was less than 3,000. Nonetheless, manager Frankie Bunn was a relieved man and was full of praise for his squad. Jonathan Benteke and Callum Lang got the decisive goals in a 2-0 victory.
Bunny commented, “We came out the blocks starting the game really brightly and we got after them, they had a freekick in the first half that was glanced wide but that was it. We've had Gevaro (Nepomuceno) and Jose (Baxter) in good areas with good opportunities, but they didn’t take them and that's been the story for us at home since the start of the season. What I will say about these bunch of lads is that they're still new and they're still gelling, but they keep going until the end and I'm delighted for Jonathan and Callum who kept plugging away to get their goals. Every single one of them, including the subs, didn't give up and that's what we're trying to instil in the group. We had plenty of other chances as well, but the lads never got down about it and I was pleased that the supporters didn’t get on our backs. Sometimes it’s hard playing against 10 men, it’s frustrating at times and we tried to overload in the wide areas with the full backs pushing on since we had two versus one at the back.”
“Jonathan’s (goal) was a scruffy finish, but all goals are great goals and it doesn't matter how they go in. Rob Hunt has done terrific down the left-hand side, whipped a great ball in and Jonathan's done what centre forwards should do, get across the front post to score and then Callum has a bit of individual brilliance to slot his goal home. I'm happy how we saw the game out, we were still looking for the second goal, but we were a little bit cautious and edgy in our decision making, so we just said play with a bit more freedom and then it's just a little bit of quality in the final third.”
“Today's gone now we focus on Northampton who thumped Macclesfield 5-0 so it's going to be a good game. The confidence is there, the group's good they're fit, they’re hungry and they keep working regardless of what's happening on the pitch. Injuries haven’t been kind to us and it’s something we have to deal with, with the squad that we’ve got, and we’ve always said the squad will come into fruition. People are getting their chance and the people who have got the shirt need to keep it and those without a shirt need to win it back which is what a squad is all about.”