KEITH Curle was right to describe Saturday’s mistakes as ‘amateurish’ - it’s been the case all season.

“The goals conceded were amateurish. When you look at both their goals, they were two gifts,” he said.

“The players were quick enough and honest enough to hold their hand up and admit they should have done better but I don’t like it, I don’t like people holding their hands up readily in the dressing room when they make mistakes. The answer is very simple: ‘Don’t do it’.”

Two defensive errors saw Latics be caught out against Leyton Orient. First, Harry Clarke failed to clear the ball and gave the London club space to run in behind and score from a position where play should have comfortably shifted forwards instead.

Nicky Adams then followed up on that mistake, playing it directly to Dan Kemp who grasped the opportunity and netted from outside of the box.

Far too often this season, it has been clear that Oldham’s defensive errors are not explicitly structural. Certain elements may have improved under Curle, but incorrect decisions have continued to plague the defence, rather than a problem with the wider set-up.

It is pleasing to see the new head coach’s response to these, noting that the problems are ones which the players themselves should strive not to make.

One positive to take from the performance is that Alfie McCalmont once again excelled and found himself on the scoresheet. Meeting a well-weighted ball from Davis Keillor-Dunn, he tucked an excellent effort into the top corner.

The Northern Ireland international has transformed from a raw talent into one who is now one of Oldham’s best players. He sits comfortably at the base of midfield dictating play and his workrate is pleasing to see.

Another who has vastly improved over the course of the campaign is the aforementioned Keillor-Dunn. Early on, he rarely impressed and was criticised for his performances, but he has changed into an important part of the attack.

Tying him down for another year is a very good piece of business. He has flourished in his new role as a false nine and it will be good to have that next year.

Perhaps even better is the fact that there are building blocks for a team, rather than the head coach having to deal with the mammoth task that Harry Kewell did. There are still changes that need to be made, but some of the foundations are now in place.