Evolution, not revolution for Unsworth's Oldham Athletic

Since succeeding club legend John Sheridan as manager of Oldham Athletic in September, the former Everton defender and Academy chief has had to endure an extensive injury list, indifferent form, the difficulties of effectively staging a pre-season within a season with a host of new signings to bed in, some questionable refereeing decisions (to put it mildly) and increasing pressure on his position from a section of supporters.

Until last Saturday.

A hard-earned away win at Chesterfield brought shafts of light at the end of the tunnel into view, and prompted a shift in mood both on the pitch and in the stands, with positivity reinforced by a professional performance and three points at Barnet in midweek.

"I'm very strong in my beliefs, and I won't be dictated to by anybody, but at the same time I've got to learn as well," said Unsworth who has tinkered with systems, styles and personnel throughout his 23 and a half weeks in charge.

"We've got to do what's right for the players, we've got to do what's right for the club in terms of securing our status, and we've got to do what's right for the demand of the fans.

"I know at home they like to see two strikers, that's something I've learnt, and I'm not that stubborn or naive to not know what your audience is looking for."

It has been evolution, not revolution.

"The position we found ourselves in... our first home game was Wrexham, I saw men, land of the giants, I know their budget, I looked at the calibre of player, quality of player, average age of their player, and I thought 'We are not competing with that'. On the day we actually should have won and we just ran out of steam," Unsworth added.

"The biggest learning curve for me has been coming up against some of the so-called top teams to compare yourself and look where you're at.

"Notts County play a totally different brand of football. Two top teams who play at different ends of the spectrum who have been years and years in the making and have spent an awful lot of money getting to the model they were at, where they were, when we played them earlier in the season.

"It's a tough league, it's a relentless league, it is a league where travelling Saturday-Tuesday is horrible, so we are adjusting and learning.

"I'm learning the league, definitely. I must have watched 300-400 games already this season both on my laptop and live."

The turning point came at the turn of the year.

"That week after Notts County on Boxing Day was probably our best ever week in terms of our learning, the work we did with the team, simplifying the way we want to play and grinding out a result and then from that just trying to add the layers to it and the players have been magnificent," the Latics boss said.

Latics have gone on to win six of their 11 league games in 2023. But playing the Unsworth way remains a work in progress.

"I want to play good football, fast football but good football; I want to get the ball down and pass it and play, and play out from the back. Anyone who has seen us since Notts County will not see that. They won't see us playing out from the back because that takes a lot of time on the training ground, it takes a pre-season, it takes a lot of work," he explained.

"I felt that when we came in I was fair to every single player and gave them an opportunity, and we won a few and we lost more and we drew a couple and we got to a stage where I think it could have gone one of two ways after Notts County.

"It was the best week we've had and I think we are now difficult to beat. We are really solid, we have a threat, we have a counter attack, we are outstanding at set pieces for and against, which is something that we weren't when we came in.

"The changes that the players have made, that we have made, from the minute we came in to where we are now, it's absolutely day and night.

"I feel that there has been a lot of progress made over the last few months and it's down to the players buying in, the players working their socks off, you look at our fitness now we keep going and score late goals. We travelled all the way to Barnet after Chesterfield and for the last 10-15 minutes we looked fitter and our XG (the number of goals that you are estimated to score) is unbelievable in the later stages of games. We're doing all right."

Better results have contributed to a better atmosphere. But there have been some tough moments for the manager, who is not immune to the chants and comments questioning his suitability to the role. He has done his best to block them out and not let them be a distraction to his long-term vision for the club, and for his job. And to do that he has leaned on the phrase 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'.

"It's been tough. I listened to Graham Potter the other day talk about his difficulties and family life and mental health and I'm not saying I'm Graham Potter and we are Chelsea, but I'm a human being. I've got three wonderful children, I've got a family and friends and it's really tough," he said.

"My dad goes everywhere. He's the most amazing man. And it's tough.

"But that's my job. If you're a football manager and you're not aware of that then you shouldn't really be a football manager.

"I think the tough times are tough and you've got to show resilience and you've got to be strong and you've got to lead. There's a difference between managing and leading. I'm leading Oldham, hopefully one day back into the Football League. I'm leading the club.

"The town is looking for a focal point, they're looking for a leader and I'll be that man. But sometimes it's tough. It is.

"It ruins your weekend; it can ruin your whole week. I heard David Moyes say once that when they lose he just wants to curl up in bed, shut the curtains, and it does get you like that.

"I can assure any Oldham fan that I'm not going out enjoying myself (after a defeat). I'm a human being.

"But the tough times, for me anyway, make me want it even more.

"And it's not proving a point to anybody, because I'm 50 years of age this year and I've had a wonderful career. I'm doing this job because of the people around me and the people at the club, because they are great people, they are great fans, it's a great town, there's an amazing feel in the club and it's hooked me.

"At the moment it feels like there's a good feel at the club and it feels like the fans are buying into what we're trying to do.

"Along the way we will have blips, we will lose games, but on the whole if they see us going in the right direction... This 'lose one he's the worst; win one he's the best' that's not sustainable. We've all got to be calm, we've got to be together and we've got to look at the bigger picture. And I feel for the first time that we've got that at the club now."