Unsworth lays down end of season challenge to Oldham Athletic

A run of three draws going into last weekend's trip to Wrexham was shattered by the National League leaders as they romped to a 5-1 win.

But Latics boss Unsworth has urged his players to get back into the good habits that brought an upturn in form this calendar year.

"If we can bounce back like we did against Notts County when we got turned over on Boxing Day... we worked really hard and we've worked really hard since then to try to put a run together, so I've challenged the players now to be unbeaten for the rest of the season and that's what we've got to try to do," he said ahead of the Good Friday game at home to Altrincham (kick-off 3pm).

"There's no reason why against the teams that we're playing that we can do that.

"Last weekend we came up against a really top outfit at this level, they'll probably go and get promoted again next year and I wish them well.

"It's 15 years in the making, we're six months in the making. I need people to patient. We need to rebuild. We've still got a lot of work to do this season to take us into pre-season."

Latics will be without Mike Fondop as he started a four-match ban but Unsworth was hoping to have Alex Reid available after his recent absence with a hamstring injury for at least one of the Easter games, with a trip to Scunthorpe United to come on Easter Monday.

Goalkeeper Magnus Norman is likely to return to the starting line-up having been named on the bench last weekend following a knee injury. Hallam Hope, too, could also be knocking on the door after a lengthy absence with a knee injury.

"They are all back on the grass," Unsworth confirmed.

"Alex will train with a view to being involved in the weekend games. Magnus said he felt his knee a little bit last weekend but he'll be ok this weekend, Hallam has been training but he's been out for a long time so we'll see if we can get him back before the end of the season.

"There are people coming back and hopefully being involved."