JOSE Baxter heaped praise on caretaker boss Pete Wild after Oldham Athletic battled to a 0-0 draw against fellow play-off chasers Forest Green Rovers.

Baxter, still returning to full fitness after sustaining ligament damage in November, missed a late opportunity for Wild’s side to take all three points in a keenly-fought encounter at Boundary Park.

The draw comes off the back of Oldham’s sensational FA Cup third round triumph at Premier League outfit Fulham last weekend and stretched Wild’s unbeaten start as Oldham caretaker boss to four games.

And Baxter believes Wild has rallied the Latics at a crucial time, admitting it was a relief to be back on the pitch after a prolonged period on the sidelines.

“It was good to be back and get some minutes. I’m still some way off my head knowing what to do and my feet doing it for me but it’s good to be back,” said Baxter.

“It’s the worst thing in the world being injured but when the lads are doing well it makes it a lot easier, and seeing the fans with a buzz around them makes it a lot easier but it doesn’t take away the fact that it is horrible to be injured.

“[Wild] has been great, he’s taken to it like a duck to water. The lads have bought into what he wants to do.

“The lads have been really professional. Training has been really good and as you can see the performances from the lads have been really good.

“Not long ago we would have thrown that game away. If we can’t win games then we have to make sure we don’t lose them and that point might be vital.

“We still have the same aims as at the start of the season. We want promotion and to get into the playoffs that’s still our goal.”

After withstanding an early onslaught from Forest Green, Oldham grew into the game and were much-improved in the second period.

But Baxter fired over late on when well-placed, while a win would have taken Oldham within three points of the League Two play-offs.

The former Everton man admitted he should have done better with the chance but immediately turned attentions towards next week’s game at Macclesfield.

“I should have doubled my tally [one goal for the season] with that chance at the end but as I said my brain couldn’t sort my feet out,” he added.

“You can’t show the top teams too much respect. We can’t take anyone lightly and we want to go and win at Macclesfield.”