FRANKIE Bunn is calling for the same spirit and enthusiasm to carry his troops over the line as Latics head into an away-day double header starting at Swindon Town tomorrow.

A trip to Mansfield follows at Field Mill on Tuesday and while the manager knows both fixtures will pose their own problems, he says it’s up to the players to overcome them – just as they did in last week’s thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Colchester when 3-1 down with five minutes left.

Bunn said: “Swindon’s gaffer Phil Brown has been in and around the game for a very long time. He’ll have them well-organised, but so will we.

“Like ourselves, Swindon have had a decent start. I think after last week though, we’d all settle for a 1-0 win . . . but like every game, they are all tough – there’s certainly no ‘gimmes’ in this league.”

Bunn couldn’t praise the team enough after showing tremendous character in the late fightback at Boundary Park last week.

“I’ve got to be complimentary to the players for digging in,” he told The Oldham Times.

“We’ll be looking for more of the same, not only at Swindon tomorrow but against Mansfield on Tuesday and all the games thereafter because we’re going to need that throughout the season. We know we’re not going to have it all our own way in the games we play.

“Every game has its different obstacles which we have to overcome and if we do so we’ll creep up that league.”

Athletic, unbeaten in their last six visits to the County Ground, have no new injury concerns.

But the question remains, with Cameron Dummigan now back to fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, together with Jose Baxter pushing for a start, is the line-up worth a tweak? Baxter certainly turned the tide when he came on last week.

“There is healthy competition for places,” added Bunn.

“That’s what we’ve got a squad for – we know, for example, there will be injuries and suspensions to contend with down the line. But we are all in this together.”

Swindon boss Brown, who has former Latics midfielder Neil McDonald as his number two at the County Ground, was delighted with his side’s 3-0 victory at Yeovil on Saturday – especially after the Huish Park side hadn’t conceded in the league for six games.

He said: “It was a good day at the office but it’s only three points and myself and Neil are looking forward to Oldham now.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old centre-back Jamie Stott has rejoined Stockport County on loan for a month. He played 16 times for the Hatters last season in the National League North and will hope to get some match-time under his belt after being an unused substitute in Latics’ recent games.