OLDHAM caretaker manager Pete Wild has helped bring team spirit back to the club with back-to-back wins, according to Tom Hamer.

Wild guided the Latics to a straightforward 2-0 win against Notts County on Tuesday in the first game at Boundary Park since Frankie Bunn’s dismissal.

With an attractive FA Cup third-round tie against Fulham lying in wait, Hamer underlined just how transformative successive victories have been to the squad’s morale.

“We’ve bounced back excellently,” said the right-back, whose side sit 10th in League Two after their first outing of 2019.

“Obviously the team spirit is there now. We were going through a run of games where we were losing and we just needed that win.

“The first half wasn’t too bad for us, they weren’t putting too much pressure on us. They played 3-5-2 but their left wing-back was a more defensive wing-back so I had plenty of time on the ball. The second half was a bit harder because they came for us more. I’d say that their sending off sealed the game for us.”

Hamer, a product of the academy overseen by Wild, notched the opener against the Magpies but didn’t know much about his first goal of the season. His ball into the box on 40 minutes was intended for the back post but looped over the head of keeper Ross Fitzsimons and into the top corner.

Peter Clarke, 17 years Hamer’s senior, scored a second just after half time to earn a fourth win in five home games and keep Oldham four points from the play-offs.

The teenager admitted the strike was unintentional but claimed crossing is a growing part of his repertoire.

“Before we come out, if I get the ball in a position like that I get told to get it and cross it in if there are people in the box,” he said.

“If there is not anyone there I keep it and don’t rush it. I do practise crossing, especially as a wide player and you have your strikers or centre-backs running onto the ball and hopefully scoring.”

“I didn’t see that it was going in, it was only the last second when I thought it might go in the top corner.”