LATICS head coach Keith Curle has praised Ben Garrity's work ethic despite being frustrated at the midfielder's missed chances on his return from injury.

Garrity played his first game in over two months, and therefore first game under Curle, in Good Friday's 1-0 defeat at home to Stevenage.

The Blackpool loanee looked to make an impact in his first start since late January.

But while Garrity could not make his chances count, Curle was impressed that the 24-year-old managed more than an hour despite his lengthy lay-off.

"Ben's all action and wants to be involved," said the Latics chief.

"Credit to the lad, I think it shows the work that he's been doing off the field that he was able to come in and perform for an hour at a good intensity.

"It would have been excellent for him to come back and get a goal but you've got to be able to hit the target.

"The chances they created they know they should get something out of the game."

It was Latics' 13th defeat at home this season, but Curle insists he does not sense any hang-ups within the dressing room about playing at Boundary Park.

"No," he said. "It's just players not doing their jobs. If you don't do your job you get punished, that's football. You find that players that consistently do their job have good careers, players that don't end up swimming around in the lower reaches of football."