Harry Kewell labelled Oldham’s performance as “terrible” following the 3-0 defeat at Stevenage.

Elliot Osborne, Luther James-Wildin and Luke Prosser all scored in the final 30 minutes as Oldham remained without a League Two point this season having lost three straight games in all competitions without scoring.

It could have been even worse with Inih Effiong missing a penalty for the hosts, leaving manager Kewell questioning his players’ mentality.

“It was terrible, it wasn’t a performance I have seen from the team throughout the time I have been here,” he said.

“It was a performance I can’t even defend. I felt that Stevenage just wanted it more in the second half. They stepped up and we had no answer to it.

“The players need to realise you just have got to be hard, strong, hard-working and have that willingness just to beat your own man and especially in the second half, we just weren’t there.

“There is no point everyone going in there screaming at each other, I don’t get that because you have had 90 minutes to go out there and prove why you should be starting.

“Some of them may be feel they have been gifted a start which is not true because I have other players willing to run a little harder and faster and it will be a shock for them.”

Latics goalkeeper Ian Lawlor denied Danny Newton early on but the visitors grew into the game, Davis Keillor-Dunn bundling wide before Bobby Grant fired off target.

Arthur Read saw his long-range effort tipped over as Stevenage ended the half in charge.

Prosser nodded Read’s free-kick wide while Jack Smith almost caught the keeper out with a snapshot, but they were rewarded when Elliott List’s cutback was converted by Osborne inside the box.

Boro failed to extend their lead when Offiong saw his penalty saved after Carl Piergianni fouled Scott Cuthbert in the box.

However, James-Wildin almost immediately lashed in following a corner, with Prosser later nodding home from close range to seal victory.

Stevenage now have four points this League Two season – a tally which took them 10 games to reach last term.

“The second half we were outstanding, we were magnificent and the players committed to what we wanted and it was great to watch,” said home manager Alex Revell after a first league win since January.