The Latics made it seven games without defeat under Richie Wellens with a fine 2-1 victory over neighbours Bury on Tuesday night. The winning goal came in the last minute from Aaron Amadi-Holloway, after Bury had hauled themselves back into the game just after half time.
Wellens commented, “I thought in the first half we were really good, scored a fantastic goal, it was a brilliant move, one touch, two touch, around corners, pass and run, I thought it was an outstanding goal. After praising the players at half time, within 30 seconds we conceded and to be fair their goal was a great goal, it was a great header. You’ve got to give it to Bury, they were really good for 20 minutes and that’s this league. Tactically it was tough because Jack Byrne wants to go inside and again the left back was bombing out. I want Jack to get on the ball but sometimes he’s going in areas far too soon and it allows the left back to get out. The goal came from that side, but it’s my fault because I’m playing Jack in that area.”
“When Omrani came on I thought he was a rock in there, I thought he was outstanding and Dan Gardner went to the left and I thought it really changed the pattern of the game. When we conceded the goal, the confidence was a little bit affected and it changed the way we played. We went too long at times in the second half, too many straight balls and I don’t want them to do that. I want them to try and get an identity of the way we play, to keep the ball on the floor, pass and try and create openings that way. In the last six or seven minutes Bury were happy to leave two versus two at the back, I could’t believe it. Davies had a few opportunities but he just ran out of legs a little bit so I thought with Aaron Amadi-Holloway’s fresh legs he could have done something and thankfully he got a great goal. We’re starting to really believe, especially at home, no matter what stage of the game, no matter how late we can still score. Once you instil that belief in the players and then it comes off, there’s no telling where we can go when the confidence starts to grow. The main thing is we moved six points clear of the relegation zone, we’ve got a tough game coming up against Scunthorpe and it’s important we keep this run continuing. The lads are buzzing at the moment, now we want to take this confidence and continue it going forward."